ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Rural Communities

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the role of affordable housing in maintaining the viability of rural communities.

Alun Michael: The Rural White Paper of November 2000 recognised the importance of affordable housing in maintaining the viability of rural communities, as did the Sustainable Communities White Paper this year. That is why we have more than doubled the target for the Housing Corporation's special programme for small rural settlements. Our Rural Housing Enablers are helping to increase the supply of affordable housing. And we are currently consulting on an update of the existing guidance on planning for affordable housing.

Forestry

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what improvements she plans to make to the forestry infrastructure to allow greater amounts of wood residue to reach power generators.

Elliot Morley: Defra, in association with the Devolved Administrations and the Forestry Commission, is setting up a £3.5 million UK-wide Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme. This scheme will help develop the supply chain required to harvest, store, process and supply biomass, such as energy crops and forestry woodfuel, to energy end-users. The European Commission's approval of the Scheme is currently being sought. Subject to this, we hope to launch the Scheme in early 2004.

Sewage

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her public consultation exercise regarding sewage odour pollution.

Alun Michael: Before announcing their chosen way forward, the Government's immediate priority is to evaluate the impact of the recent High Court decision that odours from sewage treatment works can be controlled through the statutory nuisance regime of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We also have to consider the results from the complementary consultation of the National Assembly of Wales before we can announce our chosen way forward.
	I expect to be able to announce a clear way forward shortly after the House of Lords ruling regarding an appeal on this matter.

Fly Tipping

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policies to combat fly tipping.

Elliot Morley: The Government are developing a wide ranging strategy for dealing with fly tipping.
	Proposals in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will allow local authorities to use an enhanced set of powers designed to lead to more successful prosecutions.

Farming

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for introducing whole farm approach pilots.

Ben Bradshaw: The first pilot of the core whole farm appraisal will take place in November 2003.

Agri-environmental Schemes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding her Department's agri-environmental schemes.

Elliot Morley: We received 166 responses to the public consultation on our agri-environment schemes held earlier this year, and last week we launched a final round of consultation on more detailed aspects of how the schemes should operate in future.

Air Quality

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she proposes to improve air quality.

Alun Michael: The Government policies to improve air quality are set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000, and the Addendum to the Air Quality Strategy published in February 2003.

Common Agricultural Policy

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on the support available for growing energy crops.

Alun Michael: The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was positive in its support for energy crops. It will still be possible to grow energy crops on set-aside land and to receive payments under the new Single Payment Scheme. If energy crops are grown on non set-aside land payments under the new Single Payment Scheme and the new Euro45 per hectare energy crops payment will be available. The energy crops payment is limited to 1.5 million hectares for the EU as a whole and aid will be reduced if production exceeds that area.

Common Agricultural Policy

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made with the reform of the common agricultural policy sugar regime.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission issued an options paper on reform of the Sugar Regime in late September 2003. A Defra consultation exercise has just been launched to help inform the UK response, covering agricultural, development and trade issues.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next plans to meet the National Chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss the CAP Reform package of 26 June.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has no plans at present to meet the National Chairman of the Tenant Farmers' Association. However, my noble Friend, the Lord Whitty, is currently considering a request from the Chief Executive of the Tenant Farmers' Association to meet him. The Chief Executive attended a meeting with Defra officials and representatives of other key stakeholders on 8 October which unfortunately my noble Friend was unable to chair due to last minute diary pressures. The Chief Executive has also been invited to a meeting with officials on 17 October.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of the CAP Reform package of 26 June on the nation's tenant farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific assessment has been undertaken of the impact of the CAP reform proposals on tenant farmers. However, we have assessed the impacts of the proposals on farming and other businesses generally, including an analysis by farm activity, and a summary of these is included in the Regulatory Impact Assessments which have been lodged in the House Libraries. An additional analysis looking at the impact on distribution of payments of various options for operating the Single Payment Scheme has also been carried out and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
	For the first time, the bulk of farm subsidy will not be dependent on what or how much farmers produce. As with the previous system, subsidy would be paid to the farmer, whether owner or tenant, will continue to hold the subsidy entitlement. Tenant farmers, along with other farmers, will therefore be free to produce what they judge the market wants and so be better able to cut costs and increase profits. Farmers will also be freed from some of the bureaucracy associated with the subsidy schemes which are being replaced by the new decoupled subsidy.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the possible impact on tenant farmers of the option available to EU member states to implement the CAP Reform package of 26 June by using regional average payments.

Ben Bradshaw: No such assessment has been done in relation to tenant farmers specifically. However, we have prepared an analysis of the impacts of regional average payments on farming and other businesses generally and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent of redistribution of payments between farmers if the CAP Reform package of 26 June is implemented using regional average payments as opposed to the historic payment basis.

Ben Bradshaw: We are currently consulting stakeholders on whether the historic or area model of the new Single Payments Scheme should be operated in England. Responses to that exercise will help develop our understanding of the range of environmental, social and economic impacts of each of the models including the impact on the agriculture industry and its constituent parts. An assessment has been made of the redistributive effects of a number of CAP direct aid payments. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Common Agricultural Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if it is her policy to ensure that as farm tenants progress to better agricultural holdings they will be free to move their single payment entitlements established under the CAP Reform package of 26 June to those holdings without penalty.

Ben Bradshaw: Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme will be allocated to farmers rather than holdings. It follows that a tenant would be free to use the eligible land on any new holding to claim payment against the entitlements he or she owns. There is also provision to lease entitlements, but only with an equivalent number of hectares. Leased entitlements would, therefore, revert back to their owner at the same time that the accompanying land does.

Beef Exports

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the withdrawal by the European Commission of its application to the European Court of Justice for the imposition of a fine on France for its ban on the import of British beef; and what the total fine was for which the French Government was liable.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The UK Government was gratified that France at last complied with EU law and lifted its ban on British beef on 25 October 2002.
	The European Commission withdrew its case in the European Court of justice seeking a daily fine on France after France lifted its ban. Therefore, no fines were payable, but the Commission asked the Court to order that costs of the case be borne by France. The UK Government regretted the decision by the European Commission not to pursue the case for penalties against France. The UK supported the Commission throughout and believed that pressing this case would have sent a firm message to member states that no one country can avoid its obligations and responsibilities.

Common Fisheries Policy

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department continues to receive a considerable amount of correspondence from a wide range of interest groups. In addition I meet regularly with industry representatives to hear their concerns, as do my colleagues in the devolved Administrations.

Common Fisheries Policy

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's aims in connection with the next Fisheries Council meeting.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not yet clear what the agenda will be on the 17 and 18 November, but the Government always aims to pursue a sustainable future for the UK fishing industry and the fish stocks on which it depends.

Euro

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent in each year by her Department in preparing for United Kingdom entry to the euro; how much her Department plans to spend on preparations for United Kingdom entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates she has made of the total costs to her Department of changeover to the European Single Currency.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend (Ruth Kelly) on 14 October 2003, column 142W.

Fisheries

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sea fisheries committees, naming her appointee to each to represent the interests of recreational fishing.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 20 October 2003
	Members appointed by the Secretary of State to Sea Fisheries Committees (SFC) are appointed every four years and are expected to represent all the local fishing and marine environmental interests in the waters of the SFC district. The following were appointed after consultation with a range of recreational fishing organisations. These organisations are consulted as and when mid term vacancies arise.
	Cornwall SFC—Mr. Malcolm Gilbert
	Devon SFC—Mr. David Rowe
	Isles of Scilly SFC—Mr. Timothy Allsop
	Northumberland SFC—Mr. Cedric Bilverstone
	North Eastern SFC—Mr. Frank Nesbitt, Mr John Whitton
	NWNW SFC—Mr. Allan Marklew
	Southern SFC— Mr. Bob Watton
	South Wales SFC—Mr. B Williams
	Sussex SFC—Mr. Peter Reece
	No recreational fishing organisations nominations have been appointed to the following;
	Cumbria SFC
	Kent and Essex SFC
	Eastern SFC

Fisheries

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those fish species which may be (a) caught (i) within the 12 mile limit and (ii) outside the 12 mile limit and (b) landed below their normal spawning size.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 20 October 2003
	There is no distinction made in EU or national legislation between species which can be caught within and outside 12 miles.
	Under EU legislation 38 species are subject to minimum landing sizes. Some Sea Fisheries Committees have introduced minimum sizes for additional species. Fisheries scientists generally advise that a minimum landing size should correspond to the average size of first maturity of female fish. However, this is difficult to achieve in practice when fish of different species, which grow to, and mature at, different sizes, are taken together in a mixed fishery, where the mesh size is not ideal for all species. Some minimum landing sizes, therefore, represent a compromise caused by the mixed fishery problem, and a desire to reduce the need to discard undersized fish. The table as follows lists the current minimum landings size, and recommended minimum landing size based on maturity criteria for some commercial species:
	
		Biologically desirable minimum landing sizes (mls)
		
			 Species Current mls Mls based on maturity criteria 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Cod 35 40–70(depending on region) 
			 Haddock 30 35–40 
			 Whiting 27 20–22 
			 Saithe 35 60 
			 Sole 24 26–28 
			 Place 27 30–32 
			 Hake 27 55 
			 Megrim 20 26–28

Large Combustion Plants Directive

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the responses to the consultation paper on the implementation of the revised Large Combustion Plants Directive favoured the implementation of the Directive by (a) an Emission Limit Values approach and (b) a National Emission Reduction Plan approach.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 21 October 2003
	Some 70 substantive responses have been received so far from individuals, businesses, trade associations, environmental groups, regulators, and Government agencies. Of these about 30 favoured the implementation of the Directive by emission limit approach; about 20 favoured the national plan approach; and about 20 expressed no views. In addition, some 1550 individual letters have been received so far from employees of the coal mining and associated industries, all of which favoured the emissions limits approach.

Large Combustion Plants Directive

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the effect of the National Emission Reduction Plan outlined in the revised Large Combustion Plants Directive on (a) the English coal mining industry and (b) English coalfield communities.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The Government has just completed a consultation on a proposal to implement the Large Combustion Plants Directive for plants first licensed before July 1987 using a national plan. Officials have discussed the potential impact of the alternative implementation routes with representatives of the UK coal industry and have received consultation responses from the Confederation of UK Coal Producers and other bodies and organisations with an interest in UK coal mining. The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate implementation approach after considering all of the consultation responses.

Light Pollution

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to reduce light pollution for the benefit of astronomers.

Ben Bradshaw: In 1997 the Government issued "Lighting in the Countryside: Towards good practice". This document continues to be a valuable guide for local authorities, highway engineers and members of the public. It demonstrates what can be done to lessen the adverse effects of external lighting, including security lights and street lighting. The advice within it is applicable in towns as well as the countryside. Copies may be obtained from www.odpm.gov.uk
	Defra considered the control of nuisance caused by security lighting in its recent consultation "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities". A summary of the comments received to this consultation exercise has now been published. A copy of this document may be obtained from www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/index.htm
	The Government will consider what additional guidance on light pollution may be needed taking into consideration any recommendations emerging from Defra's consultation exercise and from the House of Commons Select Committee's recent inquiry into light pollution and astronomy that was recently completed.

New Covent Garden Market

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of defending the action by the City of London Corporation against New Covent Garden Market.

Ben Bradshaw: The Corporation of London have brought proceedings against Defra and the Covent Garden Market Authority. The litigation is at a very early stage and it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of costs.

REACH

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce bureaucracy in REACH.

Alun Michael: The UK government's concerns about the workability of REACH have been addressed in our response of 16 July 2003 to the European Commission's internet consultation on the draft legislative proposals for REACH which can be found on the Defra website at http:/www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/reach/ukresponse.pdf
	More recently on 20 September 2003 the Prime Minister along with the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany sent a joint letter to the European Commission addressing these same concerns, details of which have been made available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/pdf/trilateral.pdf
	Our aim is to support the principles of REACH which are intended to protect public health and the environment while making sure that bureaucratic burdens on the chemical industry are kept to the minimum necessary for effectiveness.

South American Meat

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of meat has been imported into the UK in each of the last five years from (a) Argentina, (b) Brazil, (c) Uruguay and (d) other South American nations.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the tonnage of meat and meat preparations, imported into the UK from South American nations, in each of the last five years (1998–2002).
	
		Thousand tonnes
		
			  Brazil Argentina Uruguay Chile Others 
		
		
			 1998 58.0 10.9 13.9 2.0 0.0 
			 1999 81.6 10.1 11.3 1.8 0.0 
			 2000 97.7 10.5 9.6 2.5 0.0 
			 2001 124.1 6.6 10.0 4.2 0.1 
			 2002 132.3 24.7 16.6 3.0 0.0 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Consultancy Trade and IT, ESD, DEFRA

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Judges (Appeals)

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action the Secretary of State takes against judges who are successfully appealed against in relation to (a) sentence and (b) conviction significantly more often than the norm.

Christopher Leslie: I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Judicial Appointments

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether appointments of tribunal chairmen and members will continue to be made during the period of the consultation on judicial appointments.

Christopher Leslie: Appointments will continue to be made, to meet the needs of Tribunals, under the current arrangements until decisions on a new approach are implemented following the consultation now under way.

Legal Aid

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what criteria are applied by the Legal Aid Board in considering whether to grant assistance to defendants in civil proceedings.

Christopher Leslie: In Northern Ireland the Legal Aid Committee of the Law Society of Northern Ireland has statutory responsibility for the administration of applications for civil legal aid. The Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (NI) Order 1981 (the '1981 Order'), provides that legal aid will be available in specified proceedings to any person who meets the prescribed statutory tests. Before granting civil legal aid the Legal Aid Committee must be satisfied that the applicant's disposable income and disposable capital does not exceed the statutory maximum limits. The Legal Aid Committee must also be satisfied that the applicant meets the statutory test of having reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to the proceedings and that it is not unreasonable that he should receive civil legal aid.
	With effect from 1 November the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission will assume statutory responsibility for the administration of legal aid. The Commission will be responsible for applying the same statutory tests as are currently applied by the Legal Aid Committee.

Legal Aid

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much money has been granted by the Legal Aid Board to defendants in civil cases in the past two years.

Christopher Leslie: The Legal Aid Department of the Law Society of Northern Ireland has indicated that during the year ended 31 March 2002 £2,477,126 was paid in respect of defendants in civil legal aid cases. During the year ended 31 March 2003 £3,025,397 was paid in respect of defendants in civil legal aid cases.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Female Pensioners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women if she will take into account women's unpaid caring and domestic responsibilities when calculating future female pensions.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	People who receive carer's allowance are credited with national insurance contributions which count towards all future contributory benefits, including state pension. Others who are precluded from work because they are caring for a child or a sick or disabled person may, since 1978, be eligible for home responsibilities protection (HRP). These provisions are of particular benefit to women. HRP allows for years spent caring to be discounted from the number of qualifying years needed to achieve a full basic state pension.

Female Pensioners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women what measures are being taken to tackle female poverty in old age.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has no single definition of pensioner poverty. However, measures since 1997 to improve pensioners' incomes have been targeted largely on those in the lower part of the income distribution, many of whom are older women.
	The main measures since 1997 include: above inflation increases in the basic state pension between April 2000 and April 2003, increases to the level of the minimum income guarantee and earnings uprating of the guarantee so that no single pensioner need live on less than £102.10 a week and no couple on less than £155.80 a week, the introduction of pension credit in October this year to provide extra support for those with modest savings, winter fuel payments of £200 a year for the remainder of this Parliament, an extra £100 a year within the winter fuel payments for those aged over 80 and free TV licences for someone aged 75 or over.
	The Government are spending around £8 billion a year extra on pensioners as a result of these measures. They have resulted in pensioner households gaining £1,250 a year in real terms with the poorest third of pensioners gaining £1,600 a year in real terms.

Judiciary (Women)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women what measures are in place to bring more women to the higher levels of the judiciary.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The principle of appointment on merit is central to the judicial appointments process and those appointed should be those who are best qualified for the job.
	Notwithstanding this, the Government believe it is desirable to have a judiciary which is more reflective of the society it serves. While our judges have a reputation for excellence that is second to none, the Government recognise that there is, among other things, a significant gender imbalance within the judiciary.
	Specific measures to bring more applications (including from women) for appointment to the High Court include the abolition of the previous procedure of appointments to the High Court Bench by invitation only, and the removal of lower and upper age limits for appointment to the senior judiciary.
	More generally, initiatives to encourage a greater and more diverse range of applicants for judicial office include:
	the work shadowing scheme (which allows legal practitioners the opportunity to see what it is like to sit as a judge);
	the career statement scheme (which allows applicants for judicial office to explain any concerns they may have if they believe their career progress to date understates their judicial potential);
	the introduction of salaried part-time working for certain judicial posts (enabling individuals who cannot or choose not to commit to a full time post to nevertheless apply for judicial office);
	the introduction of a system of "block sittings" (which allows those who sit part-time as recorders, and have taken a career break, to obtain the necessary experience by sitting in 'blocks' to enable them to apply for full-time appointments on an equal footing with those recorders who have not had a break from sitting).
	The Government recognise that more needs to be done, and has announced the intention to create a Judicial Appointments Commission. While the precise role of the commission is subject to consultation, we envisage that it will be tasked with looking at ways both to attract a more diverse range of suitably qualified candidates to apply for judicial office, and to find ways of making judicial career progression a more realistic prospect for traditionally under-represented groups, including women. The consultation paper 'Constitutional Reform: a new way of appointing judges' is available in the Library.
	In the interim, the Department will continue to look at other ways of increasing diversity in the judiciary.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 148, what subsequent communication with the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee he has had in respect of disquiet over the 45-minute claim made by members of the Defence Intelligence staff prior to the final publication of the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, of September 2002; and whether the Defence Intelligence staff brought to his attention the disquiet after he requested that if people had any evidence on the matter they should produce it.

Tony Blair: None.
	This matter was considered by the Intelligence and Security Committee in its report on "Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction—Intelligence and Assessments" (Cm 5972), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. It has also been covered in both written and oral evidence to the Hutton Inquiry which has been published on its website at www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to impose capital gains tax on all sales of domestic houses.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have no such plans.

Family Income

Keith Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net income of a family with two children (a) aged 20 in full time education and (b) aged 12 with a gross income of (i) £13,000, (ii) £13,500, (iii) £14,000, (iv) £14,500, (v) £15,000, (vi) £15,500 and (vii) £16,000 a year; and what assessment he has made of the sources of that net income.

Dawn Primarolo: The general definition of a child, as given in the Households Below Average Income publication, is an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' level standard. On this basis a 20-year-old in full time education is treated as independent in the tax and benefits system.
	Given annual gross earnings, a single full-time earner family with a dependent child aged 12 will have an annual net household income in 2003–04 that is tabulated as follows:
	
		
			 Grossearnings Income tax National insurance Child benefit Working tax credit Child tax credit Net income 
		
		
			 13,000 1,610 921 835 707 1,980 13,992 
			 13,500 1,720 976 835 523 1,980 14,142 
			 14,000 1,830 1,031 835 339 1,980 14,293 
			 14,500 1,940 1,086 835 155 1,980 14,444 
			 15,000 2,050 1,141 835 0 1,951 14,595 
			 15,500 2,160 1,196 835 0 1,767 14,747 
			 16,000 2,270 1,251 835 0 1,583 14,898

Housing Supply

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the Barker review of the issues affecting housing supply in the UK; what recent discussions he has had with Kate Barker; when he expects to receive the (a) interim report and (b) final report; and if he will publish (i) the reports and (ii) all the inquiry findings.

Ruth Kelly: The Barker review was commissioned by the Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister as an independent review. As set out in its terms of reference, the review has undertaken to deliver its interim report this autumn, around the time of the pre-Budget report. The final report will be delivered in spring 2004. Both reports will be publicly available, and make clear the findings of the review.
	During the course of the review, Kate Barker has undertaken a range of meetings with interested parties from both the public and private sector, including the Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister. The review also invited submissions from relevant organisations and has received over 120 responses. These responses, and the review's terms of reference, are available online at www.barkerreview.org.uk.

Insurance and Corporation Taxes Act

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been generated for the Inland Revenue by sections 660A to 669 of the Insurance and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 in each year since 1997; and what forecasts he has made of future revenue generation.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available as the amounts charged by these sections of the 1988 Act are not reported separately.

Mortgages (Fixed Rate)

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with Professor David Miles regarding his review of the fixed rate mortgages market in the UK; if he will make a statement on the progress of the review; when he expects to receive the interim report; when he expects to receive the final report; and if he will publish them.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor commissioned Professor David Miles to carry out an independent review into the UK mortgage market. We expect the interim report to be delivered around the time of the pre-Budget report and the final report to be delivered by Budget 2004.

Mortgages (Fixed Rate)

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make public the findings of the Miles review of the fixed rate mortgages market in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: Yes.

Inland Revenue (Customer Services)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of telephone calls to Inland Revenue contact centres which were not classed as engaged or abandoned were answered within 20 seconds in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of attempted telephone calls to Inland Revenue contact centres reached an engaged tone in each of the last 12 months;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of telephone calls to Inland Revenue contact centres were abandoned in each of the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The tables give figures for the 12 months to August 2003, for calls attempted, received, handled, abandoned and receiving the engaged tone for all Inland Revenue contact centres in Great Britain, including those dealing with calls concerning the child and working tax credits, WFTC, DPTC, taxes and national insurance. They also give figures for the estimated number of callers attempting those calls. They do not include the many hundreds of thousands of calls handled by the Northern Ireland contact centres, the child benefit centre and the Inland Revenue's network of local offices, using a range of telephony services.
	Tables 1 and 2 cover the period August 2002– February 2003 and describes what is one of the country's top 10 call centre operations in broadly steady state, handling around 2 million calls per month. The number of attempted calls not being handled is in line with industry standards when related to the number of callers attempting to make those calls and the sharp peaks of activity which underlie those numbers.
	
		Table 1 -- Thousands
		
			  Number ofcall attempts Number ofcallers(1) 
		
		
			 August 2002 5,683 1,639 
			 September 2002 5,881 1,816 
			 October 2002 4,413 1,793 
			 November 2002 3,858 1,922 
			 December 2002 3,064 1,316 
			 January 2003 7,017 2,780 
			 February 2003 4,812 2,408 
		
	
	(1) The number of separate telephone numbers from which call attempts were received on each day, summed over the month.
	
		Table 2 -- Number of calls (thousands)
		
			  Received(2) Handled within20 seconds(3) Handled in more than 20 seconds Reachingengaged tone Abandoned(4) 
		
		
			 August 2002 1,801 1,167 545 3,873 90 
			 September 2002 1,935 1,117 727 3,928 90 
			 October 2002 1,893 1,271 550 2,494 71 
			 November 2002 2,068 1,509 464 1,762 95 
			 December 2002 1,355 949 342 1,689 64 
			 January 2003 3,041 1,742 1,047 3,900 252 
			 February 2003 2,785 1,570 862 1,557 352 
		
	
	(2) Where the caller selected an option for the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser.
	(3) Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu, was put in a queue to speak to an adviser, and spoke to an adviser within 20 seconds of being put in that queue. Estimated for calls on the disabled person's tax credits helplines.
	(4) Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser but the call was terminated before the caller spoke to an adviser.
	Tables 3 and 4, which cover March to August 2003, reflect a period where the Inland Revenue's contact centres dealing with new tax credits inquiries experienced call volumes so large that no call centre could have coped, notwithstanding the measures taken to increase capacity to deal with demand. Comparing the number of calls attempted each month with the number of callers, shows, particularly in April-June, a clear pattern of many callers making multiple calls, often using automatic redial equipment. During the same period, due to slow running of the IT system, there were times when calls took longer to handle, thus making it more difficult for other callers to get through.
	
		Table 3 -- Thousands
		
			  Number ofcall attempts Number ofcallers(5) 
		
		
			 March 2003 10,007 4,005 
			 April 2003 22,600 5,465 
			 May 2003 16,220 4,468 
			 June 2003 16,398 3,465 
			 July 2003 9,195 2,526 
			 August 2003 5,215 2,099 
		
	
	(5) The number of separate telephone numbers from which call attempts were received on each day, summed over the month.
	
		Table 4 -- Number of calls (thousands)
		
			  Received(6) Handled within20 seconds(7) Handled in more than 20 seconds Reachingengaged tone Abandoned(8) 
		
		
			 March 2003 4,308 1,600 1,702 1,435 1,005 
			 April 2003 4,043 1,286 1,827 5,666 930 
			 May 2003 2,969 1,138 1,386 3,525 445 
			 June 2003 1,652 716 834 1,493 101 
			 July 2003 2,192 1,135 915 2,880 143 
			 August 2003 2,192 1,373 692 2,710 126 
		
	
	(6) Where the caller selected an option for the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser.
	(7) Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu, was put in a queue to speak to an adviser, and spoke to an adviser within 20 seconds of being put in that queue. Estimated for calls on the disabled person's tax credits helplines.
	(8) Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser but the call was terminated before the caller spoke to an adviser.
	The figures for July and particularly August—when the number of calls handled only falls just short of the number of callers attempting to get in touch with the Revenue—show a steady return towards steady state with the Revenue's call centre operations much better supported by the IT system.

Money Laundering Regulations

Harold Best: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what implications the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 will have for client confidentiality between professional accountants and their clients;
	(2)  if he will introduce a minimum reporting level in the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 at which professional accountants must report their clients for errors and omissions in their financial affairs;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact that the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 will have upon the number of (a) persons and (b) businesses evading tax in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I propose shortly to lay before the House the new Money Laundering Regulations, and amending orders to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Terrorism Act 2000. They will bring those providing accountancy services, along with other specified activities and professions, into the regulated sector for the purposes of the money laundering legislation.
	The Proceeds of Crime Act requires a person who has knowledge, suspicion or reasonable grounds for knowledge or suspicion, of money laundering as a result of information or other matter that came to him or her in the course of a business in the regulated sector to report this to a nominated person in that organisation, or to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. This obligation to report relates to the proceeds of any crime—regardless of the sum of money involved and will override, in this case, the duty of confidentiality owed to that client.
	The new Money Laundering Regulations will require regulated bodies to put in place the systems that will allow them to discharge their responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
	The subject of a minimum reporting threshold was debated extensively during the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, and was rejected by Parliament (mainly because of the poor correlation between the sums laundered and the seriousness of the underlying offences). Given that the Act has no minimum reporting level, there can be no such de minimis provision in the Regulations.
	The UK takes the view that tax evasion is a serious criminal offence. The strengthening of the whole anti-money laundering regime within the UK, and internationally, will aid in the detection and reduction of money laundering and underlying crime, including tax evasion. Ministerial assurances were given during Parliamentary debate on the Proceeds of Crime Bill that the civil settlement procedure known as "Hansard" by which the Inland Revenue deals with cases of suspected tax evasion, where the taxpayer is actively seeking to set their affairs straight, would be unaffected.

Productivity Performance.

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the productivity performance figures were for each year since 1997 expressed as (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: In the UK output per worker is measured as output per filled job. Productivity performance figures are published regularly by the Office for National Statistics. Figures for 1997 to 2002 (the last complete year for which figures are available) are given in the table.
	
		
			 Year Output per filled job (index 2000 = 100) Output per hour worked (Index 2000 = 100) 
		
		
			 1997 94.6 92.2 
			 1998 96.5 94.8 
			 1999 97.6 96.4 
			 2000 100 100 
			 2001 101.1 100.9 
			 2002 102.5 102.6

Public Sector Jobs

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector jobs there were in (a) May 1997, (b) May 2000 and (c) May 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Redwood, dated 23 October 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning how many public sector jobs there were in (a) May 1997, (b) May 2000 and (c) May 2003. (133661)
	Data for periods to May are not available, but the table below shows the job levels in the public sector for the three month periods ending in August for each of the years 1997, 2000 and 2002 (the latest available data).
	
		Public sector job levels in the UK -- Thousands(9)
		
			  August 1997 August 2000 August 2002 
		
		
			 Public sector 4,954 5,094 5,298 
		
	
	(9) Not seasonally adjusted
	Source:
	Administrative Returns from public bodies

United Kingdom Companies (Government Subsidy)

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what this year's budget is for Government subsidy of United Kingdom companies.

Paul Boateng: There is no Government budget for subsidies. However, the Government seeks to promote economic growth through tackling the five drivers of productivity (innovation, investment, enterprise, competition and skills).
	Government Departments that run programmes include the Department of Trade and Industry, whose total budget for business support programmes in 2003–04 stands at £425 million, and the Department for Education and Skills.

DEFENCE

International Security and Peace

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces are engaged in operations aimed at strengthening international security and peace.

Adam Ingram: The Aim of the Ministry of Defence, as set out in the Public Service Agreement, is:
	"To deliver security for the people of the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories by defending them, including against terrorism; and to act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and stability".
	The two parts of this aim are interdependent and it is not possible to separate the contribution that individual members of the armed forces are making to each part. However, as at the beginning of October 2003, some 12,500 armed forces personnel and 300 Ministry of Defence civilians were deployed on operations (including United Nations operations) in Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia/Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Georgia; all operations directly aimed at strengthening international peace and stability.

New Recruits

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the number of new recruits required to bring each of the Services up to full strength as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.

Ivor Caplin: The latest audited armed forces manning shortfall figures available show that, as at 1 July 2003, the armed forces had a deficit of 6,060 trained personnel (Naval Service 1,020; Army 4,220; RAF 820).
	Last year, the Services exceeded their numeric recruiting target of 25,381 with 26,220 new entrants. This year, the recruiting target currently stands at 25,618.

Psychiatric Reports

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the disclosure of psychiatric reports as part of a submission to the courts pertaining to the character of a soldier charged with unlawful killing; and what rank of officer would be charged with approving the contents of such a submission.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is required by law to release medical information during the course of certain legal proceedings and its policy is in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. For the Army, the disclosure of medical records is the responsibility of the Army Medical Directorate. The rank of the individual charged with approving the release will vary from case to case.

Service Veterans

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to compile a register of Service veterans; what his estimate is of the number of living veterans; and what information is recorded to assess the welfare needs of former members of the armed services.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not compile a register of Service veterans. At the first Veterans Forum held on the 24 July 2001 it was agreed with members of the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations that the definition of a veteran should be as wide as possible and cover anyone who has ever served in HM forces, their widows/ers and dependants.
	I announced, to the House (17 September 2003, Official Report, column 51WS) the publication of a King's College London research paper into areas of unmet need within the veterans' community. This found that although joining the armed forces is generally a positive experience, with the overwhelming majority of Service leavers appearing to do well in civilian life, there is a small minority of Service personnel who have difficulty making the transition back to civilian life.
	Personnel most vulnerable to problems of transition include those discharged for medical reasons, including mental health conditions, as well as those dismissed for disciplinary reasons, premature leavers and those discharged as temperamentally unsuitable. The Ministry of Defence is working with a wide range of organisations across Government, the ex-Service voluntary sector and other non-governmental organisations to further improve the support available to these and other ex-Service personnel.

Chemical Weapons

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1111W, on chemical weapons, what further discussions have taken place as part of the Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea; what the British contribution was; whether all Government documents relating to the dumping of chemical weapons in the sea after World War Two have been supplied; what proposals he has to assist in the monitoring and prevention of the leakage of chemicals from dumped weapons stock sunk in Skagerrak after World War Two; if he will make a statement on the environmental risks from the chemical weapons dumped in the Baltic and Skagerrak after World War Two; and what is being done to combat dangers to human and marine life.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Airfield Support Services Projects

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees he estimates are likely to be transferred into the private sector under the Airfield Support Services Projects; and how many of these are employed by his Department's Fire Service.

Adam Ingram: No decisions about ASSP will be made until the Consortia bids have been fully evaluated. We would need to be satisfied that a Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership solution offered the most cost-effective solution for the provision of airfield support and wider fire services without compromising operational effectiveness or safety before we decided to outsource this activity. Should a PFI/PPP solution be adopted approximately 2,100 civilian staff would be affected, of which it is estimated that some 1,800 would be eligible for transfer (under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Act 1981). Of the latter some 1,500 are Defence Fire Service personnel.

Arms Exports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to support an international arms treaty by 2006 to prevent the export of arms where they contribute to violations of human rights and humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government fully support the aim of raising export control standards internationally. The UK operates the most vigorous export control policies in the world and actively works to encourage other states to apply similar principles. Any instrument that has the support of all major arms exporting states would be an important step towards this goal. The Government are still considering the ramifications of the proposed treaty; however, it is clearly an important contribution to the international debate on arms export control issues.

Cadet Forces

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army personnel were previously members of the cadet forces.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Campaign Medal (Iraq)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award a campaign medal for servicemen and women who have served in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: Following my announcement to the House on 8 July 2003, Official Report, column 47WS, that a campaign medal would be awarded for service during the recent operations in Iraq, officials have been preparing the detailed eligibility criteria to be associated with this award. Once determined, they have to be agreed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and then passed to Her Majesty the Queen for her approval. The work is progressing well and I hope to make a further announcement shortly.

Corporal Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rank and regiment was of each officer present and involved in (a) initial questioning of Private William Graham following the fatal shooting of Private Anthony Green, (b) attending the formal interview and (c) attending each interview conducted by the civilian police.

Ivor Caplin: All of these matters concern the detail of the investigation into the death of Corporal Anthony Green and are matters for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Defence Fire Service

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which locations overseas elements of his Department's Fire Service have been based in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: Military and civilian personnel have been based, in each of the last five years, in the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Germany, Gibraltar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and in Iraq since February this year. In addition, there have been the following deployments:
	
		
			  Location  
		
		
			 1999 Italy 
			 1999 Turkey 
			 1999–2000 Croatia 
			 2001 Oman 
			 2002 Afghanistan 
			 2002 United States of America 
			 2003 Republic of South Africa

Departmental Staff (Medical Retirement)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of the Ministry of Defence have applied for early retirement on medical grounds in each of the last five years; and how many have been (a) granted and (b) refused.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Applied for Medical Retirement Approved Refused 
		
		
			 1999 613 550 63 
			 2000 584 480 104 
			 2001 629 465 164 
			 2002 468 326 142 
			 2003(10) 383 227 156 
		
	
	(10) Up to 20 October
	Figures for 2003 relate to cases where a decision has been made.

Departmental Staff (Medical Retirement)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role is of BMI Ltd in the process of determining applications for medical retirement from the Ministry of Defence; what the average length of time has been for determining these applications; what the rights of appeal are; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: BMTs role in relation to ill-health retirement is in advising employers about whether or not applicants meet the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme's criteria for access to this benefit, from a medical perspective. The final decision on each ill-health retirement rests with the employer.
	Figures for the average length of time it takes to process applications to retire on health grounds are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	An employee who has additional medical evidence to support his or her case may appeal through a three stage process culminating in a Medical Appeal Board. The employee can appeal against:
	termination of employment on medical grounds during probation;
	a decision by the Department to retire them on medical grounds;
	a refusal by the Department to retire them on medical grounds.

Depleted Uranium

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunitions were (a) deployed to the Gulf region in 2002, (b) deployed to the Gulf region in 2003, (c) fired during the conflict in Iraq and (d) recovered during UK-led clean-up operations; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding information about numbers of rounds of depleted uranium (DU) munitions deployed on operations in accordance with exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. With regards to DU firings during the recent conflict in Iraq, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 4 June 2003. Official Report, column 445W to the hon. Member for Islington North (Mr. Corbyn). Surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, however the details of DU findings are not held centrally.

Depleted Uranium

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes his Department has (a) planned, (b) discussed, (c) initiated and (d) concluded to (i) locate and (ii) collect depleted uranium (A) ammunition and (B) ammunition fragments in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All surplus depleted uranium (DU) ammunition has now been returned to the UK. Obvious surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered.

Deployment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of UK forces around the world.

Adam Ingram: As of September 2003, some 20,200 British armed forces personnel were deployed on operations and other military tasks around the world, including:
	
		
			 Location Approximate numbers 
		
		
			 Iraq 10,500 
			 Cyprus 3,300 
			 Bosnia 1,430 
			 Brunei 1,120 
			 Falkland Islands 1,120 
			 UN deployments 460 
			 Afghanistan 400 
			 Kosovo 330 
			 Gibraltar 370 
		
	
	In addition, some 11,500 British armed forces personnel are currently stationed in Germany.

Detached Duties

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent representations he has received to exempt or reduce council tax charged on service personnel while on detached duties.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 October 2003
	Service personnel who own or rent a private property remain liable to pay council tax on their property to the local authority concerned while they are absent from that property as this normally remains their "sole or main residence". Local authorities are responsible for administration of council tax, including the interpretation of regulations concerning "sole or main residence". In this respect, Service personnel stationed in the United Kingdom or overseas are treated in the same way as any civilian who is required to live and work away from home.

Foreign Contracts

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts let by the MOD to foreign companies since 1997, stating in each case (a) the company concerned, (b) the country of origin and (c) the amount of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. (Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information).

Global Warming

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken by the Meteorological Office on the possibility of a release of methane hydrate from sea floor sediments caused by increased sea temperatures resulting from global warming and climate change.

Ivor Caplin: The Hadley Centre of the Meteorological Office has made a start assessing the potential destabilisation of hydrates. Analysis of results from the Hadley Centre climate models has shown that the most vulnerable deposits are likely to be marine hydrates in the shallow parts of the Arctic Ocean. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the gradual melting of land ice-sheets (which tends to stabilise marine hydrates by increasing sea-level and thereby the pressure at the bottom of the ocean), will be too slow to counteract the effects of global warming in the 21st century.

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what deployment is planned for the King's Own Scottish Borderers after their tour of duty in Iraq; what timetable is projected for their transfer from their current deployment to their next deployment; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Following their tour in Iraq, one Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers personnel should return to Catterick by 1 November 2003. They will conduct an Arms Plot move from Catterick to Omagh (Northern Ireland) during January 2004, on completion of which they will assume operational responsibilities in Northern Ireland; this will be a two year residential and accompanied tour. Pre-deployment training for Northern Ireland begins on 10 November. Post Operational Tour Leave (POTL) will not be affected as steps have been taken to ensure that individuals can take POTL in a reasonable timeframe and within the constraints imposed by their Training commitments and Arms Plot move.

Lance Corporal Graham

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date Lance Corporal William Graham was discharged from Her Majesty's armed forces.

Ivor Caplin: In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, I am unable to make public any personal data relating to Lance Corporal Graham.

Lance Corporal Graham

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is concerning the award of promotion to a soldier while released on bail on charges of unlawful killing; and what considerations were involved in the decision to promote Private William Graham.

Ivor Caplin: Policy on manning issues governing soldiers' careers is set out in The Queens Regulations for the Army. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, I am unable to make public any personal data relating to Lance Corporal Graham unless the relevant conditions are met.

Manning Control Points

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when manning control points have been suspended by the Army; what the reasons were; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 22 October 2003
	The Manning Control Point policy has not been suspended by the Army.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount and type of ordnance dropped on Iraq during Operation Telic; and what the overall cost was of the munitions used during the conflict.

Adam Ingram: During Operation Telic RAF aircraft released some 840 weapons over Iraq: The types were:
	Stormshadow stand-off missile
	ALARM anti-radiation missile
	Paveway II laser-guided-bomb
	Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bomb
	Enhanced Paveway III laser-guided bomb
	AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile
	RBL755 cluster bomb
	l,000 lb inert bomb
	500 lb inert bomb
	CRV-7 Rocket Pod
	AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile
	Calculating the costs of munitions consumed during the Coalition's military action will take some time since they will include the cost of ammunition, bombs and guided weapons consumed in excess of peacetime levels and the cost of repairing and replacing ordnance destroyed or damaged. Once this work is complete I will write to the hon. Member.

Iraq

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of cluster bombs during the Iraq conflict.

Adam Ingram: We made every effort to minimise the impact on the Iraqi population of the coalition's military action. Cluster bombs are lawful weapons and were used by United Kingdom forces in a manner consistent with our obligations under international law, against fielded Iraqi military forces in the open or on the periphery of built up areas.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods have been used to date to estimate the number of Iraqi civilians killed by United Kingdom or United States military forces in Iraq (a) since 20 March and (b) since the end of the conflict; and what steps are being taken to increase the reliability of these assessments.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 16 June 2003, Official Report, column 55W, and to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr (Mr. Price) on 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 7W, respectively.

Missile Defence

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the use of missile defence for destroying satellites.

Adam Ingram: We have made no such assessment.

MOD Estate

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) name and (b) location of premises used, leased and owned by private companies on MOD property, stating in each case (i) the company concerned and (ii) the nature of the relationship.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Precision-guided Munitions

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many types of precision guided munitions are in use by the RAF; and which aircraft are capable of operating precision guided munitions.

Adam Ingram: 13 types of air launched and one ground launched Precision Guided Munitions are currently in use with the Royal Air Force. Of current in-service aircraft, Tornado F3, Tornado GR4, Jaguar, Harrier, Hawk and Nimrod MR2 are capable of carrying and releasing Precision Guided Munitions. The type of Precision Guided Munition that is carried varies from aircraft to aircraft.

RAF Aircraft

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft of each type are based outside the UK; and where they are based.

Adam Ingram: At 16 October 2003 the numbers of RAF aircraft by type based outside the United Kingdom are located as follows:
	
		
			 Area Aircraft Number Location 
		
		
			 Balkans Merlin 2 Banja Luca, Bosnia 
			 
			 East Med Griffin 4 Akrotiri, Cyprus 
			 
			 Middle East Tornado GR4 6 Al Udeid, Qatar 
			  VC10 2 Muharraq, Bahrain 
			  C130J Hercules 2 Basrah, Iraq 
			  CH47 Chinook 5 Basrah, Iraq 
			  HS125 Dominie 1 Basrah, Iraq 
			  Nimrod MR2 2 Seeb, Oman 
			 
			 Afghanistan C130J Hercules 1 Kabul 
			 Falklands CH47 Chinook 1  
			  Sea King 2  
			  VC10 1  
			  C130K Hercules 1  
			  Tornado F3 4  
		
	
	In addition, the Joint Helicopter Command has helicopters based in Basrah, Iraq. On 16 October 2003, the numbers were as follows:
	
		
			 Area Aircraft Number Location 
		
		
			 Middle East Sea King 5 Basrah, Iraq 
			  Lynx 5 Basrah, Iraq 
			  Gazelle 3 Basrah, Iraq

RAF Lyneham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 September 2003, ref 130872, if he will place the study of the commercial potential of RAF Lyneham in the Library.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Sri Lanka

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the Peace Building and Reconciliation Strategy in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development on the Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Strategy for Sri Lanka. The Defence Adviser and his Assistant in Colombo represent MOD interests on the High Commission's Steering Committee on the Strategy and lead on Defence liaison in country.

Suez Medal

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether eligible former members of the military Services will need to apply to receive the Suez Emergency Medal.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made earlier today, which details the addresses of the appropriate medal offices and Command Paper 5999 for the eligibility criteria for the award of the Suez medal.

Tomahawk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk cruise missiles have been used in the last nine months; and at what cost their replacements are being supplied.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to answer I gave on 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 652W, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch).

Unexploded Ordnance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes his Department has (a) planned, (b) discussed, (c) initiated and (d) concluded to (i) locate and (ii) collect depleted uranium (A) ammunitions and (B) ammunition fragments in Afghanistan; what other programmes are in place in Afghanistan for these purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Depleted Uranium (DU) ammunition was not used by Allied Forces in Afghanistan.
	The United Nations Environment Programme Post Conflict Assessment Unit (UNEP PCAU) published the findings of their post-conflict environmental assessment of Afghanistan earlier this year. The report does not cite uranium or depleted uranium as causes of concern.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Legislation

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list for each Bill introduced in (a) Session 2001–02 and (b) Session 2002–03 (i) the date on which the first programme motion relating to each Bill was agreed to by the House, (ii) the dates of further programme motions agreed to by the House relating to the Committee stage, (iii) the dates on which programme motions relating to (A) Standing Committee proceedings, (B) dates for conclusion of proceedings in Standing Committee and (C) proceedings in consideration on Report or on Third Reading were agreed to in Standing Committee, (iv) whether Sessional Order B relating to programming committees was disapplied, (v) the dates on which further programme motions relating to consideration on Report or to proceedings on Third Reading were agreed to by the House, indicating whether the motion was (X) pursuant to a resolution of the programming committee, (Y) pursuant to a resolution of the Standing Committee and (Z) not pursuant to either and (vi) the dates on which programme motions relating to proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments and Lords messages were agreed to by the House.

Peter Hain: The information requested is a matter of public record. The Sessional Returns 2001–02 provide for each public Bill introduced in that Session the date of all programme motions agreed to by the House, and whether they were pursuant to a report. Information for the current session is available from the Votes and Proceedings, and will be collated in due course in the Sessional Return. Information on proceedings in Standing Committee is obtainable from the Standing Committee Hansard.

Legislation

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list for each Bill introduced in (a) Session 2001–02 and (b) Session 2002–03 (i) the number of sittings in Committees, (ii) the number of knives (A) for which provision was made and (B) which took effect, (iii) the number of groups of amendments not reached because a knife took effect, (iv) the number of clauses on which the question that the clause stand part was not reached because a knife took effect, (v) for how many days each Bill was considered at Report stage, (vi) the number of knives (X) for which provision was made and (Y) which took effect at report stage, (vii) the number of groups of amendments not reached because a knife took effect and (viii) how long was spent in debate (1) at second Reading, (2) in Committee, (3) in consideration on Report and (4) on Third Reading.

Peter Hain: The information requested is a matter of public record. As the hon. Member is aware, the Public Bill Office has provided detailed information on programming in the current Session to the Modernisation Committee.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Post Office Card Account

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance his Department has made available to sub-postmasters on promoting the Post Office card account to their customers.

Stephen Timms: None. The promotion of Post Office products and services is a matter for the company. Post Office Ltd. is providing information to customers and guidance to sub-postmasters on the range of banking options available at post offices, including the Post Office card account.

Post Office Card Account

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office card accounts she estimates will be opened.

Stephen Timms: I understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that as of 3 October 2003, 1.25 million customers had requested a Post Office card account and that the Government now expects the total number of card accounts to exceed the 3 million operating assumption.
	The number of customers who will eventually choose to open a Post Office card account is difficult to predict: at this stage, as it will depend on a large number of future individual choices.

Arms Exports

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) of 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1070W, on arms exports, if she will publish the statement to which reference is made.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government have taken note of the Fund for Peace's submission of 1 May 2003 concerning the US laws on arms brokering, and on this matter, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 630W.

Biomass Renewables

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representatations she has received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals on biomass renewable projects.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 14 October 2003
	Ministers and officials have received a number of representations from organisations and officials on biomass renewable projects covering a number of issues, in particular, the issues of fuel supplies, finance, planning and technology.

BSkyB

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on early day motion 1711, Monopoly of BSkyB.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading to consider. It would not be appropriate for Government to intervene.

Building Control Work

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the proportion of building control work carried out by the private sector in (a) 1987, (b) 1992, (c) 1997 and (d) 2002; what assessment she has made of the effect of the trend upon standards; and if she will make a statement.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	Statistics on the market shares of the local authority and private sectors of building control are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The terms of reference of the Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group include the drawing up of recommendations on performance indicators for the effective delivery of building control, and on procedures for the monitoring of building control bodies. I look forward to seeing the recommendations of the Advisory Group in due course.

Corporation Tax

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has conducted on the likely impact of rates of corporation tax in countries set to join the EU upon levels of inward investment into the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures from the OECD show that the UK is a relatively lightly taxed economy. Since 1997, the Government have introduced a wide-ranging package of measures to make the UK an attractive place for business to locate and to help small businesses, including cuts in the corporation tax, an R&D tax credit for all companies, and an exemption for gains and losses on most substantial shareholdings. In August 2003, the Government published a consultation document ("Corporation Tax Reform") on proposals for taking forward the Government's commitment to ensuring that the UK has a competitive and fair tax system.

Directory Inquiries

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the response by Oftel to problems raised by customers with the new 118 directory assistance providers.

Stephen Timms: The Government welcome in principle the opening up of the Directory Inquiries Market to competition. However, the implementation of Directory Inquiries liberalisation is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) and the enforcement of the regulatory regime is for the regulator, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS).

Fireworks

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures are being taken to enforce the age restriction on the sale of fireworks.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No further measures are being taken to enforce the age restriction on the sale of fireworks under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. Recent research undertaken indicates that trading standards departments generally give high-priority to firework matters during the firework season including enforcement of the age restriction. This often includes test purchasing by under 18s in many trading standards authority areas.

Fireworks

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to prevent firework-related injuries.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI's annual firework safety campaign aims to encourage the public to take care when using fireworks in order to help reduce the number of firework-related injuries. This year's campaign is focusing on the misuse of fireworks by young teenagers and the safe use of sparklers by young children.
	Also the provisions of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 governing the safety of fireworks used by the public and the fireworks industry's voluntary ban on air bomb type fireworks both help in preventing firework-related injuries.

Investment in Canada

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down by region and by (a) industrial and (b) economic sector investment by UK companies in Canada in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Data on investment by UK companies in Canada is available only by industry sector as shown in the following table. Data for 2002 will be published early next year.
	
		UK foreign direct investment in Canada by industry 1997–2001 -- £ million
		
			 Stock level at year end 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Agriculture, forestry & fishing (11)— (12)— (11)— (11)— (11)— 
			 Mining & quarrying(including oil/gas) 703 (12)— 900 2,493 1,495 
			 Food products 786 808 900 1,210 (12)— 
			 Textile & wood, printing & publishing 157 126 168 137 164 
			 Chemical, plastic & fuel products 619 487 773 576 891 
			 Metal & mechanical products 120 132 299 396 640 
			 Office, IT & communications equipment (12)— 3 2 (12)— (12)— 
			 Transport equipment (12)— 77 308 387 70 
			 Other manufacturing 570 253 243 81 369 
			 Electricity, gas & water (12)— (12)— (12)— (12)— (12)— 
			 Construction 187 103 106 (12)— (12)— 
			 Retail/wholesale trade & repairs 492 205 180 969 374 
			 Hotels & restaurants (12)— -1 (12)— (12)— (12)— 
			 Transport & communications 81 85 186 183 74 
			 Financial services 1,467 988 1,108 12,263 2,012 
			 Real estate & business services 511 990 379 275 420 
			 Other services 33 4 45 (12)— (12)— 
			 Total UK FBI in Canada 5,748 4,952 5,627 10,142 11,843 
		
	
	(11) —nil or less than half of one million
	(12) —disclosive data
	Source:
	National Statistics, Overseas Direct Investment

Post Office Closures

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed under the Urban Reinvention Programme.

Stephen Timms: I understand that Post Office Ltd. produces information on post office closures, including those made under the urban reinvention programme, on a quarterly basis. There were 342 closures under the Urban Reinvention Programme to end of June 2003, the latest quarter for which figures are currently available.

Quality Mark

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by her Department on running the Quality Mark scheme since its introduction; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: From its introduction until March 2003, approximately £6.7 million has been spent on development, marketing and running costs of the scheme.
	The Quality Mark is viewed by the construction industry as a valuable marketing tool to guarantee high quality work, underpinned by independent corroboration of a contractor's competence.
	Leading trade associations in the sector support the scheme and are working with the DTI on Quality Mark.

Recycled Rubber

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much recycled rubber was imported in each of the last five years; what proportion imports accounted for of all recycled rubber used in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for the import of recycled rubber are:
	
		Kilograms
		
			  Imports 
			  Reclaimed rubber(13) Waste rubber 
		
		
			 1998 2,712,604 4,038,920 
			 1999 2,200,850 3,442,150 
			 2000 1,186,301 3,807,662 
			 2001 1,325,191 5,084,458 
			 2002 2,246,603 6,749,131 
		
	
	(13) Reclaimed rubber in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip (CN 400300.
	(14) Waste parings and scrap of unhardened rubber and powders and granules obtained therefrom (CN400400).
	Although there is some limited information on the sales of reclaimed rubber by UK manufacturers [PRODCOM Report PRA 25130, available from the National Statistics website http://www.statistics.gov.uk/onlineproducts/PRODCOM2001 annual.asp], it excludes reclaimed rubber not sold because it is subsequently used by the same manufacturer. It also excludes such recycled rubber products as those obtained by cutting up worn-out tyres. As such it is not possible to produce an estimate of the use of recycled rubber.

Relocation Abroad

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to encourage UK based companies not (a) to relocate off-shore and (b) to transfer jobs to other countries.

Mike O'Brien: This Government believe that, as UK based companies are operating in an increasingly competitive, global marketplace, they have the freedom to choose where to locate in order to maximise their competitive advantage. The Government are continuing to create a competitive environment in the UK where an educated and skilled work force, better infrastructure and access to European and world markets has made this country the leading country for Foreign Direct Investment in Europe and second in the world only to the United States.
	The UK is a trading nation. Our economic long-term interest must be based on our ability to innovate to produce high value-added goods and services which need a highly skilled work force, high calibre managers, forward looking unions and knowledgeable consumers. A protectionist approach would damage the interests of the UK. Figures on the potential for outsourcing do not take account of the fact that the UK could gain jobs in some sectors as a result of increased competition for services. We are the world's second largest exporters of service products especially in financial services. Our service exports at £82 billion are larger than our service imports at £69 billion. Growing international competition in services could see us gain more jobs then we lose.

Road Haulage

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations her Department has received regarding (a) Drivertime Recruitment Ltd. and (b) Drivernet Ltd. of Manchester.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For reasons of confidentiality my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry cannot comment upon the affairs of individual companies.
	The Department's Companies Investigation Branch is however always ready to receive for consideration any information with regard to companies whose activities give cause for concern.
	I have already responded to a letter received from the hon. Member for Kettering with regard to this matter.

Sub-post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the package of funding for the Post Office Ltd. which the Government has provided to maintain the rural post office network will be spent on Scottish post offices.

Stephen Timms: The package of support that the Government have made available for the rural post office network is for the maintenance of the rural network across the UK, including Scotland. The Post Office does not account for assistance by country. Of 8,465 rural post offices in the UK, 1,205 are in Scotland.
	Overall, the Government have made £450 million available to Post Office Ltd. to maintain a rural post office network for a three year period from 2003–04 to 2005–06. This breaks down as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Assigned office payments (fixed payments to sub-postmasters) 198 
			 Support costs (provision of computer services, secure cash delivery etc) 227 
			 Flexible fund to trial innovative ways of delivering services 25

Sub-post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines the Government has set Post Office Ltd. in its use of funds provided to maintain the rural post office network in relation to the devolved regions.

Stephen Timms: The Government have placed on Post Office Ltd. an obligation to use the funds provided to maintain a rural post office network throughout the UK. This obligation extends to the devolved regions. The obligation is intended to be achieved by ensuring that there are no avoidable closures of post office branches in rural areas before 1 April 2006.
	In determining whether an individual closure is avoidable, Post Office Ltd. will follow the provisions of an agreed code of practice.

Trading Statistics

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on trade levels to EU countries since UK membership in 1973; and what effect this has had on UK trade to non-EU countries.

Mike O'Brien: The UK's trade with the EU 1 has grown steadily since UK membership in 1973. The value of the UK's total goods trade (exports and imports) with other EU countries has increased 20-fold since 1973 compared to a 12-fold increase in total goods trade with non-EU countries. Consequently, the EU's share of the UK's total trade in goods rose from 45 per cent. in 1973 to 57 per cent. in 2002.
	Data for trade in services with all other current members of the EU before 1992 is not readily available, therefore it is not easy to calculate the exact increase in UK trade for goods and services since 1973. The UK's exports of goods and services to the EU are now worth £142 billion and imports from the EU are worth £166 billion, making the value of the UK's trade with the EU £308 billion. The EU accounts for 53 per cent. of the UK's total trade, but for trade in services the proportion is 43 per cent.
	The UK's membership and increasing economic integration with the EU, in particular following the Single Market Programme, has generated considerable opportunities for UK businesses. This has been behind the substantial growth in UK trade with the EU. But, as the 12-fold rise in UK trade in goods with non-EU members demonstrates, this has not been at the expense of overall trade with non-EU members, which has continued to grow rapidly.
	1 All figures refer to the UK's trade with the other current 14 members of the EU.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Maintenance/Renewal Contracts

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the total cost was of the recall of the House from 8 September to 18 September; how many maintenance and renewal contracts were deferred for this period; and what the additional staff cost was.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes on 21 October 2003, Official Report, column 504W for details of the costs of the September sitting of the House.
	No maintenance or renewal contracts were deferred during this period, because the majority were programmed after the September sitting was announced. The few which were organised before this were re-planned or re-programmed to fit in with the daily sitting times. The costs of this are included in the figures given in my previous answer.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Noise

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to include the measurement of aircraft noise in the noise mapping the Department is required to carry out under the terms of the EU Noise Directive 2002/49/EC; and what methods it will employ to measure these noise levels.

Tony McNulty: Major airports will be covered by the Directive. A major airport is defined in the Directive as a civil airport, designated by the member state, which has more than 50,000 movements (a movement being a take-off or a landing) per year excluding those purely for training purposes on light aircraft. The noise maps will be produced by computation using the standard methodology as set out in ECAC Document 29.

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to make planning decisions involving airport capacity, before he has decided how to tackle long term environmental damage consequent on them.

Tony McNulty: The air transport White Paper will not take planning decisions, but will set out a long term framework of Government policy for airport development and seek to maximise the beneficial aspects of aviation and minimise the negative effects. In deciding on policies on new airport capacity, we will take account of the environmental impacts and consider measures to control and mitigate those impacts.

Aviation Security

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent assessment has been made of the security threat posed against civil aviation by terrorists using portable ground to air missiles;
	(2)  what security measures have been put in place at airports and surrounding areas to protect aircraft from potential terrorist attacks;
	(3)  what recent discussions have taken place with (a) airlines and (b) other Governments on international threats posed by terrorists with portable missile units.

Tony McNulty: The terrorist threat to UK civil aviation, including from portable ground to air missiles or MANPADS, is kept under active review, as too are the security measures needed to protect UK aviation against terrorism in all its various guises. The potential threat from MANPADS is among those being addressed, including through joint work with industry and with foreign partners, both bilaterally and in the relevant multilateral fora. Security considerations make it inappropriate to comment further on these matters.

Buses

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the arrangements for checking increases in costs of tenders for bus services; what the percentage change in tender costs to local authorities in the North West for bus services has been over the last five years; and what arrangements are in place to ensure that local authorities can specify (a) times, (b) frequencies, (c) routes, (d) fares and (e) standards of bus journey.

Tony McNulty: We keep a close watch on increased tender prices through our own research and the regular survey by the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers. We also have frequent discussions with local authorities, for example through the Bus Partnership Forum, about funding of bus services.
	Our information is that the prices for contracts let in the North West region in 2002–03 were on average around 17 per cent. above the price when the contract was last let (typically two to three years before). There was significant variation between authorities within the region. Information is not available for the region for contracts let in previous years.
	In using their subsidy powers under the Transport Act 1985, local authorities may specify contract conditions on all the aspects listed at (a) to (e). About 17 per cent. of local bus services are provided under these powers.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which use CCTV (i) on buses, (ii) at bus stops and (iii) on buses and at bus stops, listing the (A) the number of attacks reported and (B) the cost of vandalism (1) 12 months before and (2) after implementation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to improve lighting at bus stops; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have improved lighting at bus stops, providing details of (i) the number of attacks reported and (ii) the cost of vandalism (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to cut back vegetation at bus stops; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have cut back vegetation at bus stops, listing (i) the number of attacks reported and (ii) the cost of vandalism (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to employ full-time schools liaison officers to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have employed full-time schools liaison officers to tackle anti-social behaviour; what estimate he has made of the cost of vandalism (i) before and (ii) after the scheme was set up; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In April 2002 the Department published "Get on board: an agenda for improving personal security in bus travel", including guidance and good practice case studies on measures that can be taken by bus companies and local authorities. This included advice on the use of CCTV on buses and at bus stations, the need for good lighting at bus stops, the need to ensure that bus stops and shelters should be kept unobscured by vegetation and on employing schools liaison officers.
	The Government have established the Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel (STOP), bringing together bus operators, local authorities, police, unions, and other stakeholders to exchange and disseminate good practice in tackling problems caused by crime and anti-social behaviour around bus and coach travel. It is currently updating the booklet "Protecting Bus and Coach Crews". This includes advice on CCTV, good lighting and links with schools.
	In its recent publication "Travelling to School: an action plan", the Government ask schools and local authorities to work with the police, bus operators and the local community to promote positive behaviour by pupils on their journey to and from school.
	Data on the extent to which bus companies and local authorities have applied measures such as CCTV, better lighting, cutting back vegetation and working with schools and their effect on incidences of vandalism, assaults and anti-social behaviour are not collected centrally. While the Government provide advice on good practice, its implementation is a matter for operators and local authorities.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to widen pavements at bus stops on busy streets; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is for local highway authorities to ensure that footways are suited to the surroundings and pedestrian numbers. The Department has published Local Transport Note 1/97 "Keeping Buses Moving", and "Inclusive Mobility—A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure". These give some advice on local build-outs of the footway at bus stops (sometimes called "bus stop boarders") and recommendations for footway widths at bus stops.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult; how many passengers under 16 were carried (i) before, and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: There have been no measures to encourage local authorities and bus companies to offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult. Free travel to and from school is provided by local education authorities under the education acts for school children up to the age of 16 living more than the statutory walking distances from school. Under the Transport Act 1985 local authorities have a discretionary power to provide concessionary travel for children of school age. That power applies to all journeys, not just those to or from school.
	We do not collect information on what bus companies offer for this age group nor on how many passengers under 16 were carried before and after implementation of any discount schemes.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to implement travel training courses for bus travel for the (i) elderly and (ii) disabled; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have implemented a travel training scheme; how many (i) elderly and (ii) people with disabilities have attended; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We recognise the value of travel training and familiarisation for older and disabled people. Over the last year, for example, we have been monitoring a programme at a school in Yorkshire to help young people with learning disabilities to be able to travel on mainstream services. We aim to publish guidance on the lessons learnt in that programme for wider dissemination.
	We currently have no formal schemes in place to promote such activity within the bus industry or within local authorities. We do, however, take every opportunity to promote such initiatives in discussions with them.
	There is no centrally held data on individual schemes that have been introduced.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have widened pavements at bus stops on busy roads, providing details of the number of pedestrian casualties (i) 12 months before and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for local highway authorities. The Department does not hold data on which local authorities have widened pavements at bus stops on busy roads, nor on pedestrian casualties at those locations.

Buses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to introduce low-floor buses; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have introduced low-floor buses; how many (i) passengers were carried, (ii) disabled passengers were carried (A) before and (B) after implementation and (iii) services have been run; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In recent years, low-floor buses have been introduced in increasing numbers. This change was promoted both by the Department, through a series of research and demonstration projects, and by our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, who produced a recommended specification for low-floor buses which they disseminated widely.
	Since 31 December 2000, all new buses and coaches over 7.5 tonnes and with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers, which have been introduced on local and scheduled services, have had to meet the access requirements of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. Those Regulations, which were made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, set down minimum access requirements for vehicles to address the needs of disabled people, including wheelchair users. The Regulations do allow for high-floor vehicles, but in the case of full size single deck and double deck buses, production has now moved to low-floor designs.
	About one-third of full size local buses are now low-floor.
	There are no centrally held statistics about bus patronage before and after introduction of low-floor vehicles. However, from the research which the Department carried out it, was clear that people were able to board and alight from these vehicles more easily, and that with the elimination of steps in the entrance, many more elderly and disabled people would be able to use buses and to use them for longer.
	Of course, having the right vehicle is only part of the solution. We have also made changes to the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations to introduce new duties on drivers to provide reasonable assistance to disabled passengers. The Department is also working with TransFed—the training body for the bus industry—to update their NVQ disability awareness training material for bus drivers.

Concessionary Travel

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the costs to (a) each local authority, (b) London boroughs and (c) local government as a whole of extending the national minimum standards for concessionary travel schemes to give people over the age of 70 a 100 per cent. discount on fares;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the increase in the local government finance settlement necessary fully to reimburse local government for the costs of increasing the national minimum standards for concessionary travel schemes from a 50 per cent. discount to a (a) 60 per cent.,(b) 75 per cent., (c) 90 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent. discount for (i) people over the age of 60, (ii) the disabled and (iii) in total;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) each local authority, (b) London boroughs and (c) local government as a whole, of increasing the national minimum standards for concessionary travel schemes from a 50 per cent. discount to a (i) 60 per cent., (ii) 75 per cent., (iii) 90 per cent. and (iv) 100 per cent. discount for (A) people over the age of 60 years, (B) the disabled and (C) in total;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the change in the local government finance settlement necessary fully to reimburse local government for the costs of extending the national minimum standards for concessionary travel schemes to give people over the age of 70 a 100 per cent. discount on fares.

Tony McNulty: The extension this year of the minimum statutory requirement to men aged 60 to 65 cost £50 million per year. The Government do not plan further extensions of concessionary fares. We estimate that free concessionary travel for pensioners in England (women aged 60 and over, men aged 65 and over) would cost in excess of an extra £300 million a year. We have not costed all the variants listed in the question and could do so only at disproportionate cost.

Concessionary Travel

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the recognition and acceptance of public transport concessionary passes, issued in Northern Ireland, by public transport services in England.

Kim Howells: There are no arrangements in place between England and Northern Ireland over the recognition and acceptance of concessionary travel passes, nor do we have plans to set up such a scheme.
	In England, local authorities implement concessionary bus travel schemes for their eligible residents. Beyond the statutory half-fare minimum requirement, local authorities are free to determine the extent and generosity of their schemes within their areas.
	Local authorities can negotiate with train operating companies to participate in local concessionary rail fare schemes, or ask the Strategic Rail Authority to require franchised train operators to participate in them. The SRA will only do this if it does not result in additional cost to it or the operator. In addition, national discounted railcard schemes for the elderly, disabled and young in Great Britain are protected by the Railways Act 1993.

MOT Certificates

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles he estimates are on British roads without a valid MOT certificate.

Tony McNulty: The information is not currently available. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is responsible for supervision of the MOT testing scheme and is involved in a private finance initiative contract with Siemens Business Services to establish a central MOT database which will hold information on every test carried out in Great Britain. Roll-out is currently planned for 2004. Twelve months after the completion of roll-out, when the database is fully populated, it will be possible to compare the MOT data held by VOSA against the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) database of registered vehicles to establish the number of vehicles without current MOT certificates.

Port of Tyne Authority

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Port of Tyne Authority concerning issues of environmental pollution connected to the dredging of the river.

Kim Howells: Officials from the Transport team at the Government Office for the North East have held recent, without prejudice discussions with representatives from the Port of Tyne Authority about the port's application to DEFRA for a licence for the dredging and sea disposal of contaminated sediment from various locations on the River Tyne. This matter is, of course, the subject of on-going negotiations between the port and DEFRA.

Railway Stations (Wales)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the improvements to railway stations in Wales, broken down by (a) location and (b) cost in each of the last five years; and what the proposed improvements are for the next three years.

Tony McNulty: pursuant to the answer, 22 October 2003, Official Report, c. 567–68W
	In September 2002 £2.4 million was provided by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) for the installation of 'Inform Cymru' at 46 stations in Wales; in April 2002 £99,000 for additional car parking spaces, improved security and better passenger facilities at Haverfordwest Station; and £1.1 million for a new waiting room, toilet with disabled access, CCTV and Customer Information Service/PublicAnnouncement (CIS/PA) at Trefforest Station.
	The new Wales and Borders franchise agreement which was signed on 20 October 2003 provides £400,000 for improving car parks, including those at Cardiff Central (Wood Street) and Newport. Under the Vale of Glamorgan scheme the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is meeting the costs for the building of the two new stations at Rhoose and Llanwit Major. The Vale of Glamorgan line is expected to re-open in December 2004. The Welsh Assembly Government has also set aside £2.5 million for Wales and Borders to improve 47 of their stations before April 2004. The Ebbw Valley scheme, which provides for up to six new stations, is still under consideration by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Railways

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the railway industry has for station renewal and improvement in the Thames Valley.

Kim Howells: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), in conjunction with Reading borough council, is developing a business case for major capacity enhancements at Reading. The project would require a Transport and Works Act Order, an application for which would be made around 2005. The business case will form part of that application.
	Local stakeholders are also looking to commission a feasibility study on a proposal to relocate Oxford station to increase platform capacity.
	More generally, the SRA has held a competition for the right to run the Thames Trains franchise in the 2004–06 period. The competition required bidders to propose ways of improving station environments. The bids are currently being evaluated by the Strategic Rail Authority. A decision is expected shortly.

Railways

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans (a) he and (b) the railway industry have to expand track capacity on (i) the Reading to Waterloo line and (ii) the Great Western Reading to Paddington line.

Kim Howells: The Great Western Main Line will be the subject of one of the first of the Strategic Rail Authority's route utilisation strategies, on which the SRA expect to consult in summer 2004. The work will help inform decisions on any future route upgrades.
	Combining the Thames, Great Western and Wessex franchises from 2006 will create a single operator at Paddington and so free up some capacity. The SRA are also considering track layout revisions at Reading which, subject to affordability, could be undertaken when resignalling takes place in 2008.

River Traffic

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the introduction of a navigation authority in England to regulate river traffic; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: No representations have been received.

Road Journey Times

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce journey times on roads.

Kim Howells: The 10-year plan for transport published in July 2000, set out a £180 billion integrated investment strategy in roads, rail and local transport of which £59 billion was for roads. The Government's clear priority is to reduce congestion, and offer a wider choice of quicker, safer, more reliable travel on road, rail and other public transport.
	The Secretary of State for Transport made a statement to the House of Commons on 9 July in which he announced details of a £7 billion package of improvements to keep the traffic flowing on some of Britain's most congested strategic roads which will be funded out of the roads element of the 10-year plan.

Road Safety

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the action being taken to improve road safety on the A414 between Chelmsford and the M11/Harlow junction.

Kim Howells: The section of the A414 between Chelmsford and the M11/Harlow junction is the responsibility of Essex County Council which has identified it as one of the routes to be the subject of a priority route study. Initial analysis has been undertaken and accident measures are being determined for implementation in the next financial year, subject to the availability of funding.

Road Safety

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department provides on the siting of speed limit signs on roads.

Kim Howells: Guidance exists in the form of traffic advisory leaflet 1/95, "Speed Limit Signs, a Guide to Good Practice", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. It is also available via the Department for Transport website.

Traffic Commissioners

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statutory functions of traffic commissioners; what powers he has to intervene in the decisions made by traffic commissioners; if he will list the public inquiries called by traffic commissioners in the past year and the basis on which these inquiries were called; and if he will publish the guidance issued to traffic commissioners in respect of self-employed traffic managers.

Tony McNulty: Traffic commissioners are statutorily responsible for licensing the operators of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in their area, including taking disciplinary action against operators who breach the conditions of their licence: the conduct of vocational drivers, and for the registration of local bus services. The traffic commissioner for Scotland is also responsible for taxi fare and parking appeals.
	The Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in decisions by traffic commissioners in carrying out their statutory functions.
	Details of public inquiries are published by the traffic commissioners in their Annual Report to the Secretary of State. The report for 2002–03 is due to be published shortly and copies will be placed in the library.
	No guidance has been issued to traffic commissioners in respect of self-employed transport managers. The requirements for transport managers are set out in the legislation and it is the responsibility of traffic commissioners to interpret whether these requirements are being met in individual cases.

Trans Consult Ltd.

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what action he has taken to investigate claims of discrimination against Trans Consult Ltd. by his Department's traffic commissioners;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the economic impact of the alleged discrimination against Trans Consult Ltd. by his Department's traffic commissioners;
	(3)  if he will launch an independent inquiry into the alleged discrimination and conduct of his Department's traffic commissioners against (a) Trans Consult Ltd., (b) its clients and (c) its agents;
	(4)  what the cost has been of bringing (a) small businesses, (b) farmers and (c) transport operators before public inquiries solely because they are connected to Trans Consult Ltd.

Kim Howells: Statutorily independent Traffic Commissioners are responsible for deciding applications for the licence required by operators of public service vehicles and heavy goods vehicles and Ministers cannot interfere in their decisions. Commissioners must satisfy themselves that applicants meet statutory conditions about good repute, financial standing and professional competence. They are also responsible for taking action against licence holders who do not comply with the terms of their licence. Traffic Commissioners can call public inquiries to assist their investigations. These inquiries are treated as tribunals. Appeals must be made to the Transport Tribunal.

Widford Bridge

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on repairing the Widford Bridge, Chelmsford; and how long he expects the work will take to complete.

Kim Howells: Widford Bridge is owned by Network Rail and is included in their national load carrying assessment programme. A draft assessment report on the bridge is being prepared by W. S. Atkins on behalf of Essex County Council as part of a Joint Venture Agreement with Network Rail and this is expected to be delivered to Network Rail's consultant by the end of November 2003. If the report concludes that the bridge is weak, a weight restriction would be imposed as an interim measure.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of animals used for experimentation in the UK.

Caroline Flint: Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) act 1986 Act the Home Office, and its counterpart in Northern Ireland ( the Department of Health, Social Security and Public Safety), license the use of animals for scientific purposes where there is no non-animal alternative, and then only when both the number of animals and their suffering are minimised. This reflects the principles of the 3Rs—replacement, reduction and refinement.
	As the regulator of the use of live animals in scientific procedures the Government is demand-led—it has no control over the number of project licence applications which it receives. While we must seek to minimise the number of animals used in particular programmes of work, we cannot therefore influence the overall amount of animal research and testing which takes place—that is determined by many other factors, including the economic climate and global trends in scientific endeavour. There are current developments—such as advances in the use that can be made of genetically modified animals-which may lead in coming years to more rather than fewer animals used overall.
	The Government fully supports and encourages development and promotion of the 3Rs in a number of ways, and additional impetus has been given to its efforts to that end by the related recommendations recently put forward by the House of Lords Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures. In the longer term we must rely for any further significant reduction in animal use largely on the scientific community's own continuing efforts to develop, validate and accept non-animal alternative methods.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrestees in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside police authority area tested positive for Category A and B drugs in each of the last two quarters for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 20 October 2003
	Drug testing of persons in police detention (after charge) is not currently available in Haltemprice and Howden or the East Riding of Yorkshire.
	Within the Humberside Police Authority, the following figures relate to the Kingston-upon-Hull Basic Command Unit (BCU):
	Out of 121 attempted tests since the drug testing after charge programme began on 8 September 2003, 48 people tested positive for both category A and B drugs. Of those 48 positive results, 52 per cent. tested positive for cocaine, 15 per cent. tested positive for opiates and 33 per cent. tested positive for both opiates and cocaine.

Drugs

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many hits on average per registered heroin addict have been seized by the police in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: It is not possible to estimate the number of hits on average per registered heroin addict seized by the police because only broad ranging estimates of the number of heroin addicts are available. The quantity of drug used in a "hit" will also vary. We do have data on the number of seizures of heroin made by the police, and the quantities they seized: these appear in the table.
	These data are taken from the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin, and Finding 202 "Seizures of drugs in the UK 2001". These are available on the RDS website and in the Library (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb402.pdf and http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r202.pdf).
	
		Number of seizures of heroin and quantities in kilograms seized by the police by year 1993 to 2001
		
			  Heroin seizures 
			  Number Quantity (Kg) 
		
		
			 1993 3,480 130 
			 1994 4,340 160 
			 1995 6,340 360 
			 1996 9,700 330 
			 1997 12,340 490 
			 1998 15,040 360 
			 1999 15,360 1,500 
			 2000 16,120 1,990 
			 2001 18,080 2,800 
		
	
	Source:
	Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics, United Kingdom—Supplementary Tables and Findings 202

Departmental Staff

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) special advisers, (b) press officers, (c) civil servants, (d) advisers to civil servants and (e) permanent staff were working for his Department in each year since 1996.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures can be found in Table C of the annual publication "Civil Service Statistics" published by Her Majesty's Stationary Office for the Government Statistical Service annually, and which covers permanent staff numbers in each Department and Agency from 1995 to 2002. Information on the Civil Service is published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics', copies of which have been placed in the Library. The latest edition, based on April 2002 data, was published on 24 July 2003. These figures include statistics on press officers, but the term "advisers to civil servants" is not one that is recognised.

Gun Trade

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the (a) trade in and (b) possession of (i) replica guns and (ii) disabled guns and (c) incidence of conversion of such guns to fire live ammunition; and what proposals he has to bring forward legislation to tackle gun crime.

Caroline Flint: There are no reliable statistics relating to the number of imitation and deactivated firearms in circulation. Imitation weapons were involved in 1,201 recorded offences in 2001–02. An examination of 217 real guns submitted to the Forensic Science Service between April-June 2003 showed that 59 had been converted from blank firing replicas, 19 from air weapons and two from de-activated guns.
	Offences involving the use of guns are varied and need to be tackled on a number of different fronts. Tough laws and effective enforcement are important and the current Criminal Justice Bill includes proposals for a five-year minimum sentence for the illegal possession of prohibited firearms. We have also included provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Bill which will ban the carrying of imitation firearms or air weapons in a public place without reasonable excuse. The sale, manufacture, transfer and import of air weapons which use the self-contained air cartridge system—which is readily converted to fire conventional ammunition—will also be banned. The law already regards any imitation which can be readily converted as a firearm which means that it is banned if it is a handgun.

Police

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Association of Police Authorities on next year's funding settlement.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has regular meetings with the Chairman of the Association of Police Authorities to discuss a range of issues, including prospects for future funding.

Prison Population

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) unconvicted and (b) convicted unsentenced prisoners are held in prisons in England and Wales, broken down by sex.

Paul Goggins: On 31 July 2003 there were 7,163 untried and 4,603 convicted unsentenced males, and 537 untried and 495 convicted unsentenced females in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Football Association (Financial Support)

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what level of financial support was given by Sport England to the Football Association in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the purpose to which this expenditure is put.

Richard Caborn: None. All Sport England Lottery support for football is channelled through the Football Foundation, a partnership between the Government, the Football Association and the FA Premier League. The Foundation receives income from the three funding partners in roughly equal proportions. It received approximately £17 million from public sources in 2002–03. Sport England's contribution to the Foundation was £6 million in that year, the balance of the £17 million coming from the New Opportunities Fund and the Reduction in Pool Betting Duty.
	75 per cent. of the Foundation's total income is used to develop grass roots football, the balance funding community and education projects, and essential ground safety work.

Terrestrial Television

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve reception to terrestrial television in areas that traditionally have suffered from a weak signal.

Estelle Morris: There are no plans to develop further the analogue terrestrial television transmission network, this is to enable the broadcasters to concentrate their resources on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) network. The Digital Television Action Plan tasks Government to determine and agree a target level of coverage for digital terrestrial public services post-switchover in 2004. This spectrum plan will also enable us to assess the possibilities of improving current reception levels of DTT services across the UK. The latest version of the Digital Television Action Plan is available at: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Breast Feeding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to ensure that health objectives relating to breast feeding are supported within the school curriculum.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 22 October 2003
	The Department has no plans to specifically address breast feeding in the school curriculum. However, through Personal, Social and Health Education pupils learn about health and well-being, including making healthier, safer choices. They are taught to think about the alternatives and long and short term consequences when making decisions about personal health; and to seek professional advice confidently and find information about health. They also consider social and moral dilemmas, for example, how the choices they make affect others.

Class Sizes

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the average class size was in secondary schools, broken down by (a) school year and (b) local education authority in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the average class size in primary schools was, broken down by (a) school year and (b) local education authority in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The available information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Data on class size by year group was not collected prior to 1998 for primary schools and prior to 2001 for secondary schools.

Early Literacy Support

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what pilot studies were carried out in assessing the effectiveness of the Early Literacy Support approach to the teaching of reading; and if he will make a statement on the study and the results.

Stephen Twigg: A systematic study covering the one-year pilot of the Early Literacy Support (ELS) programme was taken forward during 2000–01 by a team of primary HMI, who have evaluated the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies since 1998. Their detailed findings informed the development of the programme and were summarised in Ofsted's third Annual Report on the Literacy Strategy. Participating teachers, teaching assistants and literacy consultants also provided systematic feedback on the pilot which resulted in the materials and the programme being appropriately modified and refined before publication.

Teacher Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will reward the fourth year undergraduate initial teacher training students with similar financial treatment to that for those committing to a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 October 2003
	My right hon. Friend has no present plans to change the eligibility conditions for teacher training bursaries.

Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he has collated on (a) the administration costs to (i) local education authorities, (ii) the Student Loan Company and (iii) the Department of Assessment and Implementation of Tuition Fees Remission and (b) the compliance cost to higher education institutions of this system.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is not available.
	Government funding of higher education institutions in England through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) takes account of the cost to universities and colleges of administering tuition fees. The forecast income that institutions receive from student contributions to fees is abated by 5 per cent. for collection of fees and any default. For 2002–03, that amounts to an estimated £21.36 million. The latest survey of the non-payment of fee contributions, published by Universities UK in November 2002, found that the amount unpaid at July 2002 across the UK was well within the 5 per cent. set aside for administration and default.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Den Khodaida Water Project

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the aims are of the Den Khodaida Water Project in Afghanistan and the structure of the UK's involvement in it; if he will list the other countries involved in (a) projecting, (b) setting up and (c) running the project; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Den Khodaida is a village in the hinterland of Kabul but lying outside the city boundary. The aim of the Den Khodaida Water Project is to repair the water supply system to the village. These repairs are on-going. The project is being implemented by one of the Civil-Military Co-operation teams of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The team is under Finnish command. There has been no direct British involvement in funding, designing or running the project. The EC has also not had any involvement.

Foreign Aid

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the top 10 Department for International Development performers receive in direct budget support; and what percentage of that in his Department's budget was spent in those countries in the past 12 months.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not rank partner countries by performance. However, for the 10 largest recipients of bilateral assistance, the table lists total allocations and allocations of direct budget support (DBS) in 2002–03. As the table shows, allocations of DBS to the 10 largest recipients represent 58 per cent. of total DBS allocations and 7 per cent. of the total DFID bilateral programme.
	
		
			  2002–03 Total spend (£ million) Direct budget support (DBS)(£ million) Percentage DBS of total DFID programme Percentage DBS of total DFID DBS 
		
		
			 India 161 30 2 14 
			 Tanzania 96 45 2 21 
			 Bangladesh 77 0 0 0 
			 Afghanistan 75 13 1 6 
			 Ghana 56 12 1 6 
			 Uganda 55 23 1 11 
			 Malawi 52 0 0 0 
			 Kenya 45 0 0 0 
			 Ethiopia 43 0 0 0 
			 China 42 0 0 0

Horn of Africa

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department has (a) run and (b) supported in (i) Somaliland, (ii) Somalia in general, (iii) Ethiopia and (iv) Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK has increased its involvement in Somalia over the last year. Most of our resources are aimed at meeting humanitarian needs, although we have also begun to support activities in regions, which have demonstrated steps towards peace and democratisation. For example, we have supported the electoral process in Somaliland, as well as exploring development programming in education, health and governance. We have also been providing support through the European Union (EU) and the UN.
	We have provided substantial humanitarian assistance in response to current food shortages in Ethiopia. This has totalled £49.1 million since the beginning of 2002. We are also actively pressing ahead with our development programme for Ethiopia, as described in our Country Assistance Plan (CAP), published in March 2003. The CAP outlines our intention to work in three priority areas: education; food security; and capacity building. We will also continue to engage in HIV/AIDS, the private sector, roads and development of civil society.
	We have no bilateral development programme in Eritrea, though we do provide humanitarian assistance and the British Ambassador in Eritrea manages a Small Grants Scheme. Our main avenues of engagement and support are through the EU, World Bank and IMF.

Iraq

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the £200 million of aid announced for Iraq reconstruction has been taken from his Department's contingency fund for humanitarian emergencies in 2003; and whether it will be ringfenced for particular projects.

Hilary Benn: DFID's contingency reserve exists to enable us to respond to both humanitarian emergencies and reconstruction needs. The £209 million now committed by DFID to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq in 2003 has been found from a number of sources, including £75 million from DFID's contingency reserve, an additional £120 million provided by HM Treasury from the central reserve, and money already allocated for assistance to Iraq. About £151 million has been committed to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs, some of which is earmarked for specific projects and some of which is allocated for an agreed range of activities in a sector. The remaining £58 million has been allocated directly by DFID to particular projects and activities, including DFID secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with NGOs working with children and adults with learning disabilities in Iraq;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the number of people suffering from learning disabilities in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: DFID has held no specific discussions with NGOs on this issue, and no assessment has been made to date.
	The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is responsible for institutions which work with children and adults with learning disabilities. UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to support them to enhance services for vulnerable and disadvantaged children generally. DFID's programme in Iraq is focused on meeting the needs of all Iraqis, especially the most vulnerable.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of humanitarian aid provided to Iraq since the beginning of the conflict is; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has so far committed £209 million to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. Much of this finance is being channelled though organisations best placed to deliver assistance on the ground: United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGOs. The UK also provides 19 per cent. of European Community (EC) funding for Iraq. The total EC commitment to Iraq currently stands at Euro100 million.
	Substantial additional contributions are being made at the Madrid Donors Conference on 23 October. My written statement to the House of 14 October sets out the details.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to prevent food shortages after the cessation of the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The ending of OFF will result in a change in management responsibilities for the Iraqi food procurement and distribution system, and not the end of the food distribution system. There is food in the pipeline until mid 2004 from contracts already funded and signed. As these contracts begin to expire the CPA will take over responsibility for contracting the supply of food and basic goods. Handover preparations have been under way for some time. The Ministry of Trade within the CPA is assessing expected OFF imports, the so called "food pipeline", against total needs. Where there is a shortfall the CPA is contracting alternative suppliers to provide the food. The financing for this will come from the CPA budget.
	In the South and Centre of Iraq the Ministry of Trade has always had responsibility for distributing food and basic goods purchased under the Oil For Food scheme. This will not change with the ending of the Oil for Food programme. In the three Northern Governorates the Oil for Food programme was run by the World Food Programme. On 21 November responsibility in the North for this system will pass to a new organisation, the "Program Co-ordination Office". This will work under the CPA and may be able to re-employ many of those currently employed on the distribution side. Work is progressing to ensure that this office has the capacity to carry out its new role. The UK has a food security advisor in the CPA Ministry of Trade, and stands ready to provide further assistance against identified needs.

Kosovo

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial aid has been granted to Serbia and the Kosovo region since 1999; what has been achieved in the country to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Since 1999, DFID has invested £161 million in the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo. Initially, we provided emergency humanitarian assistance covering such areas as food and drug supplies, emergency shelter, health care, mines clearance and funding for international relief agencies.
	We have since focused on supporting key economic and social reforms and the poverty reduction agenda, through both technical and budgetary assistance. We have funded strategic interventions such as the reform of Serbia's crumbling banking sector and the development of a merit-based civil service in post-conflict Kosovo. We have also provided £14 million as budgetary assistance to the Kosovo authorities to help meet the costs of administration and reconstruction during the post-conflict period.We also work through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the European Commission, contributing £393 million since 1999 through our share of EC development assistance. The EC is the biggest donor in the region, financing large-scale reconstruction programmes in the energy and transport sectors, as well as supporting administrative, economic and social reforms that will help the region rejoin the European mainstream.
	Recent reviews of our assistance strategies for the region have found that while international assistance has been successful so far in meeting humanitarian and reconstruction needs, the emerging challenge is to help the authorities to improve the environment for reforms and growth as levels of aid decline.
	We will continue our support and have allocated £7.4 million for the coming financial year, in addition to a further £2 million through the inter-ministerial Global Conflict Prevention Pool and our continued contributions through the EC.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the projects planned by his Department that are to be run in Liberia; what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of each project are, and the projected schedule for project (i) initiation and (ii) conclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We have committed a total of £7.6 million this year for humanitarian programmes in Liberia, these are managed by the UN and other international relief agencies. An inter-departmental mission will visit Liberia in November. It will assess the current needs of the country, and the measures being taken by the international community, particularly through the UN, to assist the Transitional National Government to address them. The mission will make recommendations for the future role of the UK.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the issue of (a) short-term emergency aid, (b) medium-term humanitarian aid and (c) long-term development assistance to Liberia; what programmes (i) were outlined to him and (ii) he outlined; when and where these discussions took place; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has been in regular contact with officials from USAID. In addition the FCO have regular discussions with the US Government concerning all aspects of the co-ordination of aid in Liberia. An inter-departmental mission will visit Liberia in November and will have further discussions with US officials on their plans. We understand that these may include support to security sector reform. There are provisional plans for a donor conference on Liberia, probably in December, at which donors will coordinate and exchange information on their intentions.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) his Department and (b) representatives of the Government have had with representatives of the governments of (i) EU member states, (ii) Norway, (iii) EU accession candidate countries, (iv) the US, (v) ECOWAS member states, (vi) Commonwealth member states and (vii) Japan on the subject of post-conflict reconstruction in Liberia; when and where these discussions took place; what concerns were raised during each discussion and by whom; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Discussions on Liberia, by DFID and the FCO, have taken place with a range of governments and agencies. These have included EU member states, particularly France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy concerning aid to Liberia. We have also discussed with Norway the possibility of Norwegian police officers being seconded to UNMIL. We have had regular contact with the U.S. on all aspects of the situation in Liberia. We have had close and continuing contact with ECOWAS concerning its role in Liberia, and have contributed £1 million. to its international force. There has been contact with other states. We have had close contact with the European Commission concerning their intentions in Liberia.
	Discussions are taking place on arrangements for a possible donors conference on Liberia in mid December. This will be an opportunity for the international community to coordinate its proposals.

Malaria

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money his Department will give (a) for medicines to fight malaria and (b) to research into affordable anti-malarials in 2003–04.

Hilary Benn: DFID is strongly committed to meeting the Millennium Development Goal to halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015, recognising the importance of malaria, not just in terms of disease burden, but also the potential it has to undermine economic growth and human development.
	Since 1998, DFID has provided in excess of £110 million to support malaria control activities globally and at country-level. This includes support to Roll Back Malaria, an international partnership to reduce competition and duplication of effort, develop technical consensus, increase political commitment and raise the profile of malaria.
	As DFID contributes to a broad based effort to tackle this complex disease, it is not possible to break down our spend to show amounts spent on medicines for malaria by year. Our support at international level is to initiatives which support general malaria control activities and at country level provides finance to governments, either as support to particular sectors or direct into governments' budgets. Our commitment to combating malaria was reaffirmed in May 2003 with our pledge to increase our commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to US$280 million. Successful implementation of existing Global Fund proposals will result in the number of treatments for resistant malaria in Africa increasing from 15,000 to four million annually and also result in the purchase of seven and a half million insecticide treated nets over the next two years. These nets offer substantial protection against malaria.
	Despite the great complexity of malaria, it remains a disease that is preventable, treatable and curable. DFID is committed to supporting national governments and partners ensure that effective drugs and commodities are accessible to the poor. We have committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to strengthen health systems to deliver vital drugs and health care treatment. In malaria endemic countries a significant part of drug spend will be for anti malarials.
	DFID also provides support to the Medical Research Council and initiatives such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture (£1 million in 2003–04) to help to find new low cost malaria treatments.

Cambodia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the (a) de-mining and (b) mine awareness projects (i) directly run, (ii) primarily funded directly, (iii) financially assisted directly by his Department, (iv) primarily funded and (v) financially assisted through (A) local, (B) regional and (C) international non-governmental organisations using contributions from his Department in Cambodia since 1997, including the structure and methodology of each project, and the latest assessment his Department has made of the progress of (1) each project, (2) de-mining and (3) mine awareness in general in Cambodia; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has provided funding for demining in Cambodia at the following disbursement levels since 1997.
	
		£ million
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 NGO 0.56 0.44 0.29 2.61 2.30 0.78 0.45 
			 UNDP 0.50 0.50 0.48 
		
	
	DFID funding for Cambodia covers a number of different areas of activity and is part of DFID's global response to humanitarian mine action. In Cambodia specifically we have provided funds on a bilateral basis to the UK NGOs the HALO Trust and Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to carry out demining programmes in various parts of Cambodia. We have also provided funds for the in-country development and testing of mechanical demining equipment.
	DFID has provided additional funds through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) and the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) which are indigenous organisations set up with the assistance of the UNDP.
	In March 2001 DFID carried out a review of its support to mine action in Cambodia. We concluded that there had been considerable successes since 1991 with thousands of mines having been cleared and large areas of land restored to economic use. We thought there were institutional weaknesses especially in the area of co-ordination where there was limited interaction between the various organisations working on mine action and the central mine action authorities. Our support to the Cambodian Mine authorities that we provide via the UN aims to address this issue. The UN will be providing support under the UNDP Country Co-operation Framework for 2001–05. Key objectives of the programme include development of the management capacity of the CMAC and CMAA. Specific activities include:
	Strengthening partnerships among entities and stakeholders involved in the mine awareness sector;
	Development of quality assurance and quality control processes;
	Development and review of MRE guidelines and materials;
	Promotion of national compliance with responsibilities detailed in the various national and international instruments pertaining to mine action;
	Assistance in victim rehabilitation programmes. European Union
	The following contributions were reported since 1997:
	1998 £3.0 million (UK share = 19.1 per cent.)
	1999 £0.56 million (UK share = 17.75 per cent.)
	More information on demining in Cambodia can be gained from the publication "Landmine Monitor". A copy will be sent to the House of Commons Library. There are also a number of useful websites on this subject, one of the most informative is the site hosted by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) www.mineaction.org

Monrovia

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are being taken (a) to repatriate refugees from Monrovia to their homes in the rest of the country and (b) to reduce their dependence on aid handouts.

Hilary Benn: Such measures cannot be taken until security is restored outside the region of Monrovia. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are reluctant to return to their homes while skirmishes continue. Aid agencies are unable to support such moves until security can be guaranteed for their own activities outside Monrovia. The situation is expected to improve as UNMIL gains in strength.
	IDPs have returned to camps in Montserrado, Bong and Margibi counties. The UN and aid agencies are supporting relocation of IDPs to these camps from which they previously fled. The World Food Programme has stopped general food distributions to IDPs in Monrovia. NGOs are also scaling down feeding programmes in the light of evidence of access by IDPs to their own supplies of food.

Refugees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response his Department has made to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees appeal for Sudanese refugees in Chad; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has requested $16.6 million (approximately £11 million) for 65,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad, including $6.2 million for emergency operations. The refugees have fled the fighting in Darfur, in western Sudan.
	We have been following this situation closely and have been in contact with the UNHCR assessment mission, which led to the appeal. We have also been in touch with non-governmental organisations active in this area. We have agreed to provide £1 million towards the appeal and remain concerned about the plight of Sudanese refugees in Chad.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 75–76W, what end of programme assessment his Department has made of the Bolivia Health and Sexual Education programme, with particular reference to (a) the aims successfully achieved and (b) issues still outstanding; what replacement programme his Department has (i) planned and (ii) initiated in Bolivia, including aims and delivery methods, with specific reference to sexual education programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Bolivia Health and Sexual Education Project ended in July 2003. An end of project review was undertaken by GTZ on behalf of DFID. It concluded that the project successfully demonstrated the interest and demand for improved health and sex education in Bolivia. The project supported over 1,000 young people (between the ages of 12 and 25) in five departments of Bolivia to take leadership roles in the promotion of health and reproductive rights issues, and promoted better health service delivery to these populations.
	The project was less successful in strengthening the supply side of health and sex education services. The Ministry of Education was not prepared to integrate these activities into its curriculum and hence DFID was unable to promote the successful local experiences at national level and is no longer supporting sexual education programmes in Bolivia. DFID is currently investigating whether health and sex education should be incorporated into its new programme promoting more inclusive citizenship and the realisation of human rights.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 4 October 2003, Official Report, columns 75–76W on reproductive health, what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of the Andean Reproductive Health Initiative are; how much of the effort is aimed at (i) Peru and (ii) Bolivia; what support structure is provided to the programme by (A) the Government of Peru, (B) the Government of Bolivia, (C) local and ethnic leaders in Peru, (D) local and ethnic leaders in Bolivia, (E) local non-governmental organisations, (F) national non-governmental organisations; (G) regional non-governmental organisations and (H) international non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Andean Reproductive Health Initiative (RHI), which ended in July 2002, was a joint collaboration between DFID, the European Commission (EC), and Population Concern, who managed the project. Population Concern together with local, national and regional NGOs, public sector providers and Ministries of Health and Education in Bolivia and Peru, developed ways of improving demand for and access to reproductive health services for marginalised groups. These formed the basis for identifying innovative ways of delivering services to be piloted, and for establishing management systems to support lesson learning focusing on adolescents and marginalised groups. Other civil society groups, such as the Catholic Church were involved in and supported some project initiatives.
	The project focused on the improvement of human development opportunities for women and men by reducing the risks they face from dangerous pregnancies, and the improvement of adolescents' access to reproductive and sexual health and information services. The lessons learnt from the initiative were disseminated through a communications strategy to the Governments of Bolivia and Peru, donors and NGOs with a view to improving reproductive health policy and programmes. The programme's overall budget of approximately £1,856 million was split equally between Bolivia and Peru, with DFID contributing £630,000 and the EC Euros 1.7 million.

Sierra Leone

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures are being taken to re-educate and re-integrate former child soldiers in Sierra Leone;
	(2)  what provisions are being made for the demobilisation and reintegration of child soldiers involved in the recent conflict.

Hilary Benn: A total of 3,039 ex-combatant children are currently in education through a UNICEF community education investment programme. Other child protection agencies, such as CARITAS, have helped provide educational opportunities through the National Commission for Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (NCDDR) supported Training and Employment Programme.
	According to figures provided by UNICEF, 6,845 child soldiers were demobilised over a year ago. 4,894 have been reunited with their families. A further 2,151 non-combatant children have been reunited with their families, with the support of UNICEF.

Sierra Leone

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Sierra Leone and its impact on the humanitarian situation.

Hilary Benn: All areas of Sierra Leone are accessible. UNAMSIL is progressively withdrawing, and currently consists of 12,300 personnel. It is currently scheduled to withdraw completely by December next year. The Sierra Leone Government is undertaking a wide-ranging review of the security sector, which we are supporting. The review is intended to assist the Government to prepare for UNAMSIL's departure. The UK is providing extensive support to reform and strengthening of the security sector, as part of this preparation.
	There is no security restriction on humanitarian activity. There is a general shift in emphasis, by the Government of Sierra Leone and by international agencies, from relief to development activities.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will reconsider the decision not to publish the legal advice provided by the Attorney-General on the legal basis for military action in Iraq.

Harriet Harman: No. As the hon. Member is aware from my answers to him on the 26 March and 21 May 2003, there is a long-standing convention, observed by successive governments, that advice which the Law Officers have given to the Government is not publicly disclosed. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4(d) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions, and in what forms, the Attorney-General has been asked to publish the advice she provided to the Government in respect of the legality of military action in Iraq; if she will list the individuals and organisations which have made requests; and what criteria were used in determining a response.

Harriet Harman: The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers does not maintain any records of the occasions on which the Attorney-General has been asked to publish the advice he provided to the Government in respect of the legality of military action in Iraq. It is not therefore possible to provide a comprehensive answer to the hon. Member's question. The following information is available. Since the Attorney-General made his statement on 17 March 2003 setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq:
	(a) four parliamentary questions have been tabled asking if I will publish the Attorney-General's advice. Three of these questions were posed by the hon. Member himself (on 26 March, 21 May and 22 October 2003). The fourth question was put by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 24 March 2003;
	(b) the Attorney-General has received four letters from members of the general public asking him to publish his advice. The hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir George Young) also wrote to the Attorney-General enclosing a letter from one of his constituents asking for disclosure of the advice; and
	(c) the Lord Alexander of Weedon has written to the Attorney-General requesting disclosure of his advice.
	The reply on all these occasions was to decline the request. The reason given was that there is a long-standing convention, adhered to by successive governments, that advice which the Law Officers have given to Government is not publicly disclosed. This is to enable the Government, like everyone else, to obtain full and frank legal advice in confidence.

Street Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the CPS has taken to narrow the gap between the overall levels of crimes recorded by the police and the offences brought to justice (a) in general and (b) with particular reference to hate crimes.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is narrowing the justice gap by improving performance so that cases are better prepared, increasing early guilty pleas and ensuring more contested cases reach trial. They are taking a number of steps to achieve this, including increasingly giving early advice to the police so that the case is reviewed early and the appropriate charge laid; improving case preparation and communication with the police to reduce the number of committals discharged; providing greater support to victims and witnesses by providing more information about the progress of the case so that they continue to support the prosecution and reduce the number of ineffective trials, and helping them through the trial process by, where appropriate, using video evidence, screens, and other special measures; working with local community groups so that local communities can see that the work of the CPS is responsive to their concerns.
	The CPS is working with colleagues in other criminal justice agencies, through the Local Criminal Justice Boards, to:
	(a) bring more offenders to justice; and
	(b) increase public confidence in the CJS.
	With particular reference to hate crimes, the CPS has produced three Public Policy Statements since November 2001 on Domestic Violence, Homophobic Crime, Racially and Religiously Aggravated Crime, and given specific training to lawyers on domestic violence and racially and religiously aggravated crimes. Work is currently under way to develop training with regard to homophobic crime. The training involves lawyers hearing from victims or practitioners who work directly with victims.
	In February 2003, the CPS held a conference in Cardiff specifically on reducing the justice gap in hate crimes. This included representatives from voluntary sector organisations, other criminal justice agencies, the Bar and the Law Society, and a number of academics and focused on ways to improve the performance of prosecutors.
	The success of the CPS in increasing public confidence and reducing the justice gap, particularly as regards vulnerable communities, is subject to scrutiny and comment by HMCPS Inspectorate in their regular reports.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bursaries

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) further education and (b) higher education bursaries are available to students studying in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The payment of further and higher education bursaries is determined by demand. All Northern Ireland domiciled students whose family incomes are less than £20,000 are eligible to apply for bursaries of up to £2,000. These bursaries are payable to eligible NI students studying in Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
	Figures relating to students studying in NI in receipt of a bursary are currently not available. However, in the 2002–03 academic year, bursaries were awarded to (a) 415 in further education and (b) 11,959 students studying in higher education in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Civil Partnership

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that Northern Ireland is included from the outset in any forthcoming bill on civil partnership; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what areas of the proposed civil partnership legislation have been assessed by his officials as requiring distinctive Northern Ireland sections; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what research (a) he has assessed and (b) will be commissioned on the consequences for same-sex couples who move to Northern Ireland of a civil partnership law only applying in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what he estimates would be the cost of processing and legislating a civil partnership law separately for Northern Ireland through an Order in Council; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: There has been no decision yet as to whether the civil partnership registration scheme set out in the consultation paper issued by the Department of Trade and Industry should be extended to Northern Ireland. My officials are currently examining those proposals with a view to issuing a consultation paper in the autumn. Beyond that, no decision has yet been taken as to whether a parallel civil partnership registration scheme should be introduced in Northern Ireland. In examining the DTI proposals, my officials are considering the possible impact for Northern Ireland of the introduction of a civil partnership registration scheme across a wide range of areas, including those areas where Northern Ireland law and practice differ from England and Wales. This preliminary consideration also includes an examination of the likely impact on couples who register their partnership under the scheme in England and Wales and who subsequently move to Northern Ireland. There is little information on how many such couples there may be, but work is on-going between officials in Northern Ireland and their counterparts in the Department of Trade and Industry. No calculation of the estimated costs of processing and legislating a civil partnership law separately for Northern Ireland through an Order in Council has been carried out.

Electoral Rolls

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he proposes to enable citizens of countries who will be admitted to European Union membership in April 2004 and who are resident in Northern Ireland to be admitted to the franchise in time for the European elections in June 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Local and European Parliamentary Elections (Registration of Citizens of Accession States) Regulations 2003 and the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2003 were introduced earlier this year in time for the annual electoral registration canvass. These regulations permit citizens of states due to accede to the European Union next year who are resident in Northern Ireland to register to vote in local government and European parliamentary elections to be held on or after 1 May 2004.

Health Service Funding

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what budget funding was given to the Northern Ireland National Health Service in each of the last three years expressed (a) by percentage change and (b) as a percentage of Northern Ireland GDP.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	(a) In Northern Ireland, health services are fully integrated with personal social services in a single financing, planning and delivery systemthe HPSS (health and personal social services). It follows that the HPSS budget is considerably larger than a separate health budget would be. The figures in the table reflect this fact.
	
		
			  Health and Personal Social Services 
		
		
			 200001 budget allocation ( million) 1,976.3 
			 200102 budget allocation ( million) 2,238.7 
			 Percentage change from 200001 13.27 
			 200203 budget allocation ( million) 2,475.3 
			 Percentage change from 200102 10.5 
			 200304 budget allocation ( million) 2,898.6 
			 Percentage change from 200203 17.1 
		
	
	(b) The following table shows budget funding for the HPSS estimated as a percentage of Northern Ireland GDP. In addition to the fact that they derive from an HPSS (as opposed to a merely health) budget, the percentage shares reflect Northern Ireland's exceptionally high need for expenditure on public serviceshealth and social care included.
	
		
			  HPSS budget allocation estimated as a percentage of GDP 
		
		
			 200102 11.65 
			 200203 12.3 
			 200304 14

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each absent parent is expected to contribute towards their children's care; who makes the decision on levels of payment; and what account is taken of the parents' work status.

Chris Pond: In the new child support scheme non-resident parents with net incomes of over 200 will pay 15 per cent. of their net income for one child; 20 per cent. for two children and 25 per cent. for three or more children. Allowances will be made for any children in the non-residents parent's current household.
	Those with net income over 100 up to and including 200 will pay a reduced rate on a sliding scale. Those non-resident parents with net earnings of 100, or on benefit, will pay a flat rate of 5.

Child Support

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time staff were employed by the Child Support Agency in Essex on 15 September.

Chris Pond: In the month of September the Child Support Agency employed 80 full time staff and 25 part time staff in Essex.

Child Support

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has commissioned on the cancellation of driving licences for those who have not properly maintained child support payments in (a) EU countries, (b) the USA and (c) Canada; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: In developing our proposals for child support reform we considered the experiences of a range of countries including the USA, Australia, Canada and a number of EU countries.
	The powers in sections 14A (information-offences) and 39A to 40B (commitment to prison and disqualification from driving) of the Child Support Act 1991 are intended to help the Child Support Agency to secure compliance. Their success is in the extent to which non-resident parents co-operate with the Agency.

Child Support

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reports he has received of former Child Support Agency employees setting up businesses specialising in CSA cases; what assessment he has made of the implications of these businesses for the administration of the CSA; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 17 July 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask what reports he has received of former Child Support Agency employees setting up businesses specialising in CSA cases; what assessment he has made of the implications of these businesses for the administration of the CSA; and if he will make a statement.
	I am aware of a number of bodies who offer a variety of services about child support, for example through internet sites ranging from shared experience to claiming to be able to influence maintenance assessments. I am also aware that some of the bodies attempt to validate their service by claiming to be ex-employees of the Child Support Agency. Where the advice offered is constructive and accurate I welcome its availability. When staff leave the Agency they are reminded of their responsibilities to keep confidential personal information gained during their service.

Combined Benefits Payments

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people did not receive combined benefits payments owing to the breakdown of the link between Pension Service computer systems; when the link broke down; how long the link was broken; how much in benefit payments was not paid in this period owing to the problem; why the Department did not realise the breakdown had taken place until contacted by a benefit recipient; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: This is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of The Pension Service. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 17 July 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people did not receive combined benefits payments owing to the breakdown of the link between Pension Service computer systems; when the link broke down; how long the link was broken; how much in benefit payments was not paid in this period owing to the problem; why the Department did not realise the breakdown had taken place until contacted by a benefit recipient; and if he will make a statement.
	It would appear that the breakdown of the link between The Pension Service computer systems was restricted to a single benefit recipient and was not a national problem affecting numbers of customers. It is of course possible that other cases may have similar circumstances however, we are not aware of any other cases where this problem has occurred.
	The customer was receiving a combined payment of Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) and then submitted a claim for Retirement Pension (RP). For the RP claim to be assessed and paid, the other two payments for MIG and SDA had to be de-combined as three payments cannot be combined into a single payment for these benefits.
	The customer subsequently withdrew the RP claim and an attempt was made to recombine the SDA and MIG payments. However, due to incompatible data being held in the two benefit systems, we were not able to reconnect the interface. Incompatible data may occur due to a simple inconsistency such as an incorrect office code, resulting in the two pieces of information 'missing' each other when attempting to link.
	The MIG section was notified on the system on 9 February 2003 when an error message 'interface failed' appeared on the customers account. We were aware that a system error had occurred prior to the customer writing to us and took action to issue payments in the most efficient manner.
	Arrears have been paid in full to the customer in question. The customer is currently receiving all benefit entitlement, but these are being paid separately.
	The Pension Service has a duty to ensure that all of our customers receive their payments correctly and on time. Therefore alternative arrangements were made to ensure that the customer received the correct payment amounts on time.
	I hope that this is helpful.

Compulsory Interviews

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many compulsory interviews have taken place in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) benefit and (b) welfare to work scheme; and what the total cost of interviews was in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) benefit and (ii) welfare to work scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 28 July 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of compulsory interviews that have taken place in each year since 1997, broken down by benefit and welfare to work scheme and the total cost of the interviews. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus conducts a wide range of compulsory interviews in a variety of circumstances. For example compulsory interviews are conducted at the start of every Jobseeker's Allowance claim and in our new integrated offices at the start of every claim for a Jobcentre Plus benefit. Compulsory interviews are then conducted at various stages of a claim and also under a variety of circumstances in our welfare to work programmes.
	We do monitor workflows and activity in Jobcentre Plus offices and maintain statistics for some individual programmes, such as those held on the New Deal database. However, it is not possible to provide the information you have requested on the total number of interviews or breakdowns by benefit or welfare to work programme. Similarly we cannot provide a figure for the cost of compulsory interviews.
	My apologies for not being able to provide the information you requested.

Disability Issues

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the non-discriminatory treatment of disability issues alongside other equal opportunity issues will form part of the United Kingdom's position in negotiations on the EU constitution.

Maria Eagle: The existing Treaty provides a good basis for legislation to combat various forms of discrimination including discrimination against disabled people. Legislation under the Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community can only be adopted by the unanimous agreement of member states. This allows for the wide diversity between member states' social systems to be respected as demonstrated by the provisions of the Race and Employment Directives adopted by the Community in 2000. Our view is that the existing voting arrangements should be retained in the Intergovernmental Conference.

Health and Safety Executive

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries at work occurring in the Edinburgh area have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years, broken down by sector.

Des Browne: The number of fatal and serious injuries 1 reported to HSE and local authorities (LAs) in the LA area of the city of Edinburgh 199798 to 200102 are in the table.
	1 Defined as reported as a major or fatal injury under RIDDOR
	
		
			  Agriculture Extractive and utility supply Manufacturing 
			 Year/Employment status Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury 
		
		
			 199798   
			 Employee  1  1  36 
			 Self-employed   
			 Member of the public  1 
			 Total  1  1  37 
			
			 199899   
			 Employee4 1 22 
			 Self-employed   
			 Member of the public1  2 
			 Total5 1 24 
			
			 19992000   
			 Employee  114 
			 Self-employed   
			 Member of the public1   
			 Total  1  1  14 
			   
			 200001   
			 Employee  3  2 1 14 
			 Self-employed  1 
			 Member of the public   
			 Total  4  2 1 14 
			
			 200102   
			 Employee  2  1  17 
			 Self-employed   
			 Member of the public   
			 Total  2  1  17 
		
	
	
		
			Construction   Services   All industries 
			 Year/Employment status Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury Fatal injury Serious injury 
		
		
			 199798   
			 Employee 1 52 2 153 3 243 
			 Self-employed  11 
			 Member of the public  3 1 203 1 207 
			 Total 1 56 3 356 4 451 
			
			 199899   
			 Employee 1 76  161 2 263 
			 Self-employed  11 
			 Member of the public  4  190  197 
			 Total 1 81  351 2 461 
			 19992000   
			 Employee 1 79 1 139 2 233 
			 Self-employed  11 
			 Member of the public 2 7  192 2 200 
			 Total 3 87 1 331 4 434 
			
			 200001   
			 Employee 1 80  150 2 249 
			 Self-employed  12 
			 Member of the public  8  93  101 
			 Total 1 89  243 2 352 
			
			 200102   
			 Employee 2 83 1 166 3 269 
			 Self-employed  3  1  4 
			 Member of the public  5  76  81 
			 Total 2 91 1 243 3 354

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects job points to be installed in (a) Burnt Oak Library, (b) Hendon Job Centre and (c) Mill Hill Job Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Andrew Dismore, dated 23 October 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the installation of Jobpoints in Burnt Oak Library, Hendon and Mill Hill Jobcentres. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	I can confirm that a Jobpoint is scheduled to be installed in Burnt Oak Library on 28 October 2003. The availability of the Jobpoint in the Library will be publicised in local Jobcentres through posters and leaflets and leaflets will also be issued to customers using the library. To further publicise the new Jobpoint service an official launch is planned later this year in December.
	Jobcentre Plus staff currently visit the Library every two weeks to provide face to face advice and jobsearch assistance. This will continue after the Jobpoint has been installed.
	Hendon already has eight Jobpoints, which were installed in May 2001. Mill Hill also already has eight Jobpoints, which were installed in November 2001.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many representations he has received in the last 12 months opposing the closure of local Jobcentre Plus offices; which organisations submitted these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Paul Holmes dated 28 July 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning representations to the Secretary of State regarding the closure of local Jobcentre Plus offices. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	During the past 12 months, there have been forteen represenations in the form of parliamentary questions or letters to the Secretary of State from MPs expressing concern about the delivery plans of Jobcentre Plus and specifically about the closure of offices. In addition to responding to these representations in writing, both the Minister of State for Work, Nick Brown, and the Project Director for Jobcentre Plus, Jeremy Groombridge, met with a number of MPs to give assurances about the level of service that will be provided.
	At the Jobcentre Plus District level, managers have and will continue to consult with the widest possible range of people about the service they are planning to provide. Local advice and welfare groups, local authorities and MPs are essential sources of guidance in this matter. Any representions resulting from this consultation process are collated by District Managers.
	Jobcentre Plus is delivering a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. By 2006, there will be around 1,000 newly integrated offices across the country which will provide customers with a 'one-stop' service for benefits, advice and jobs. Over 250 offices are offering this new service already and 8 out of 10 customers tell us they are satisfied with all elements of the new service.
	These new Jobcentre Plus services are customer focussed. The new offices enable customers to make enquiries about both their benefits and employment opportunities in the same place. Our new telephone contact centres mean that customers can make enquiries about both benefits and jobs without even having to come into one of our offices. The introduction of new technology is also enabling people to find the information they need about jobs and training via the Internet and our new Jobpoints. Jobpoints are not just being placed in Jobcentre Plus offices, they are also being placed in other public places such as libraries and supermarkets. All of these developments are making it easier for our customers to take advantage of the services we provide.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job points there are in prisons in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Tony Cunningham, dated 23 October 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many Jobpoints there are in prisons in the UK. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	We have piloted a new scheme placing Jobpoints in four prisons to establish if this will assist prisoners in finding jobs. These were installed between July and October 2002 and have proved to be successful. Jobpoints were distributed as follows:
	HMP Featherstone: 1 Jobpoint
	HMP Hollesley Bay: 1 Jobpoint
	HMP Lewes: 2 Jobpoints
	HMP Swansea: 2 Jobpoints
	We are planning to install Jobpoints in a further ten prisons in late spring/early summer 2004.
	I hope this is helpful.

Liability Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the Office of Fair Trading on the introduction of compulsory notice renewal periods for liability insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: We continue to be in discussion with the Office of Fair Trading on all aspects of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance. In relation to renewals the Government were pleased to see the introduction by the Association of British Insurers and the British Insurance Brokers' Association of new guidance to insurers and brokers on renewals. The guidance included a recommendation for providing policy holders with at least 21 days notice of their renewal terms. In the first instance the Government will look to see the response of the industry to this guidance.

Lone Parents

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the value of accrued entitlements to the child maintenance bonus among lone parents in receipt of income support; and if he will make it his policy to preserve accrued entitlements to the child maintenance bonus once the new child support rules are applied to all families.

Chris Pond: The information on the value of accrued entitlements to the child maintenance bonus among lone parents on income support is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	An extended period of one month, rather than the usual 14 days, to meet the work condition for the payment of child maintenance bonus has been put in place for cases transferring to the new child support scheme. To go further would require the maintenance of a substantial number of records for an indefinite period, thereby increasing administrative costs.
	The child maintenance bonus was a feature of the old child support scheme, introduced in 1997 to give parents with care receiving income support or income-related Job Seeker's Allowance the benefit of up to 5 a week of the maintenance paid, when they returned to work. In the new scheme, the bonus will be replaced by the child maintenance premium, which will ensure that up to 10 a week of the maintenance that is paid will pass to the parent with care, while she is still on benefit. We estimate that the annual cost of child maintenance premium will be more than four times that which would have been spent in a year on a continued child maintenance bonus scheme.

Pension Credit

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Hendon (a) are receiving pension credit, (b) are entitled to pension credit but not yet claiming it, (c) are receiving pension savings credit, (d) are entitled to pension savings credit but not yet claiming it, (e) received free eye tests in the last year for which figures are available, (f) received free TV licences in the last year for which figures are available and (g) will be entitled to winter fuel payment (i) at the standard rate and (ii) at the higher rate for older pensioners in 200304; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested about Pension Credit is not yet available in the format requested.
	As at May 2003 there were 3,000 Minimum Income Guarantee claimants in the Hendon constituency. Around half of all pensioner households will be eligible for Pension Credit and stand to gain on average 400 a year (around 7 a week). We intend from November to publish monthly reports on the progress of Pension Credit take-on, which will include information on the number of applications. (14)
	The number of sight tests paid for by the national health service for those aged 60 and over in Barnet, Enfield and Haringay health authority for the year ending 31 March, 2003 was 54,780. (5)
	The information requested about TV licences and Winter Fuel payments is not available in the format requested, such information as is available is as follows.
	The number of people aged 75 and over, in receipt of a key benefit as at 31 May 2003 in Hendon was 6,600. These people would be eligible to receive a free TV licence. (68)
	The number of people in Hendon who received a Winter Fuel payment for Winter 200203 was 17,715 and we expect the number to be around the same for 200304. Of that figure 4,055 were over age 80 and therefore would be eligible to receive an additional payment. (911)
	Notes:
	1. Source: IAD Information Centre.
	2. The number for MIG refers to benefit units where the claimant and/or their partner are aged 60 or over.
	3. The figure for the number of MIG claimants is based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.
	4. This figure has been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
	5. The total number of sight tests paid for by the NHS for this constituency was 146,380.
	6. Source: IAD Information Centre 5 per cent sample
	7. TV licence figures based on 5 per cent. data taken from the Client Group Analysis of the population over State Pension age as at 31 May 2003, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. These figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	8. As only one TV licence is required per household, the number of free TV licences issued may be lower than the number of people entitled to one. Some households may contain more than one person aged 75 and over and not all households with a person aged 75 or over will have a television.
	9. Source: IAD Information Centre 100 per cent. sample
	10. Winter Fuel Payment figures taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2002/2003 exercise 100 per cent data. 100 per cent data figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	11. Key benefits are Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Minimum Income Guarantee and State Pension.

Sex Shops

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on advertising jobs in job centres for posts in licensed sex shops.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson he will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Tim Loughton, dated 28 July 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning Jobcentre Plus policy on advertising jobs in Jobcentres for posts in licensed sex shops. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of the Agency.
	The Ann Summers organisation recently challenged Jobcentre Plus' policy in refusing vacancies that are connected to the sale of sex related products. The outcome of the resulting Judicial Review was announced on Wednesday 18 June.
	The outcome of the Ann Summers Judicial Review was to quash Jobcentre Plus' decision to refuse Ann Summers' vacancies and the policy that underpinned that decision. In response Jobcentre Plus have considered a range of options, taking into account the judge's observations in the case, the operational implications and the interests of all concerned.
	Jobcentre Plus' decision is to accept all vacancies from the sex and related industries from 21 July 2003, provided that they are legal and fulfil our other criteria for accepting and displaying vacancies.
	I hope this is helpful.

Small Business Council

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department will be responding to the recommendations put forward in the Small Business Council Annual Report 2003 in relation to insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Department will co-ordinate its response with the Department of Trade and Industry, which expects to respond to the Small Business Council's recommendations in October 2003.

Pensions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government's low-cost stakeholder pensions are taken up by the people towards whom the Government is aiming them.

Malcolm Wicks: Stakeholder pensions are for everyone, but particularly moderate earners without access to a company pension scheme. Employers that do not provide a company pension scheme must give their employees access to a stakeholder pension. Charges are capped to 1 per cent. of the value of the individual's fund each year, people can pay amounts from 20 upwards into them, and can stop and start contributions without penalty. Everyone now has access to a good value pension. Over three-quarters of first-year stakeholder pension sales (690,000) were to workers earning under 30,000 a year, with around two-thirds of first-year sales (530,000) going to workers earning under 20,000 a year. The Government is working to ensure that individuals actively and regularly plan for their retirement, that they are aware of the various options for saving for retirement, including stakeholder pensions, and where they can get information to help them make decisions.

Pensions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the state pension age.

Malcolm Wicks: Following consultation on the options for equality in State Pension age, the Pensions Act 1995 introduced measures to gradually equalise the State Pension age at 65 between 2010 and 2020.
	Our Green Paper Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement (Cm 5677), which was published in December 2002, reviewed the issue of State Pension age and announced that we do not propose an increase in the State Pension age. Such an increase would impact most heavily on those most dependant on the State Pension.
	The Government's priority is to address the employment rates of those approaching 65 and to introduce new choices to encourage people to work past 65 where they want to.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the subject of child witches.

Chris Mullin: None.

East Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Chris Mullin: The current situation in the peace process is that the Boundary Commission set up under the Algiers Agreement has made a decision on the position of the boundary between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which is legally binding. We and the UN Security Council, most recently in Resolution 1507 of 12 September 2003, have called on both parties to implement this fully.

East Timor

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives from the UN Serious Crimes Unit regarding the progress of the East Timor humanitarian crimes trials in Jakarta; what steps the UN is taking to monitor proceedings; whether a UN review of the proceedings is being considered; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I have not had discussions with the UN Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) or any other UN officials about the Jakarta Ad Hoc Tribunal on Human Rights Abuses in East Timor. The UN office in Jakarta, rather than the SCU is responsible for monitoring the Ad Hoc Tribunal, but neither they nor the Secretariat in New York have made public any of their reports on the Tribunal. We believe that the UN is considering whether to do a formal review of the Ad Hoc Tribunal but no decision has been taken on this yet. Our officials at the UN remain in regular contact with UN officials about issues affecting East Timor. In August 2003 the EU issued a statement criticising the deficiencies of the Ad Hoc Tribunal.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department has responsibility for the Global Conflict Prevention Pool; and what responsibilities other Departments have for the Pool.

Bill Rammell: A review of the Government's work on conflict prevention in 19992000 concluded that delivery would be improved by bringing together in a more co-ordinated way the existing activities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in this field. The Government therefore set up joint FCO/DFID/MoD Africa and Global Conflict Prevention Pools in 2000.
	The Global Conflict Prevention Pool is overseen by a Cabinet Committee comprising my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary (the Chair), the Secretary of State for International Development, the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief Secretary to HM Treasury. At Ministerial level, responsibility within the FCO rests with me.
	The inter-departmental, tripartite management of the Pool is maintained at all official levels, including in the GCPP Steering Team and in the management teams for GCPP geographical and thematic strategies. While the FCO holds the Chair of the GCPP, responsibility for its management is shared equally between all three Departments.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries the Global Conflict Prevention Pool has been active; and when meetings with (a) the UN, (b) the EU and (c) state representatives regarding conflict prevention were held.

Bill Rammell: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) works through a wide range of programmes grouped under geographical, regional, thematic or international capacity building strategies. Its geographical strategies are:
	Afghanistan;
	The Balkans ;
	Belize and Guatemala;
	Central and Eastern Europe
	Indonesia and East Timor;
	India and Pakistan;
	Iraq, The Middle East and North Africa;
	Nepal;
	Russia and the Former Soviet Union;
	Sri Lanka.
	The GCPP also has the following thematic and international capacity building strategies:
	Security Sector Reform;
	Small Arms Light Weapons;
	OSCE and the Council of Europe;
	The UN.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him today (UIN 133142) for more details on these strategies.
	Meetings to discuss conflict prevention with representatives of the UN, EU and of particular states take place regularly. Examples include UK participation in negotiations and discussions in the UN General Assembly and Security Council, and with the UN Secretariat, in the EU Political and Security Committee and during bilateral meetings with visiting Ministers and officials. Recent meetings include a visit to the UK in June for discussions of UN Reform by Jean-Mairie Guehenno, Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in the UN Secretariat, negotiations on the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Secretary General's Report on Conflict Prevention in June and July, a call by the Swedish Ambassador for Conflict Prevention on the FCO in September, and bilateral discussions with the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai during his visit to the UK in October 2003.

Guantanamo Bay (Feroz Abbasi)

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the mental health of Feroz Abbasi in Guantanamo Bay; and if it is intended that he will be repatriated to the UK if he is deemed unfit to face trial.

Chris Mullin: Any health concerns there may be about the British nationals at Guantanamo Bay are being addressed and we are in contact with the families of those concerned. The issue of the mental health of a British national is information of a private and confidential nature.
	Although Mr Abbasi has been designated as eligible to face prosecution before a Military Commission, he has not been charged. Furthermore, all legal proceedings against the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay are currently suspended. The question of fitness to face trial is therefore hypothetical at this stage. We are pressing the US authorities to move forward with the process of determining the future of all the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay. We have discussed, and are discussing, a range of options with the US, including the possibility of repatriation.

Indonesia

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on co-operation by Indonesia with the UN Serious Crimes Unit.

Mike O'Brien: I am advised that Indonesia has not co-operated with the Serious Crimes Unit's investigations. There was a request to do so from the late Sergio Vieira de Mello when he was the Special Representative of the Secretary General to East Timor, and there was lobbying from the EU in support of this request.

Indonesia

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Indonesia regarding the activities of Laskar Jihad members.

Mike O'Brien: We have discussed counter-terrorism issues a number of times with the Government of Indonesia over the past year, although we have not specifically raised the activities of Laskar Jihad members.
	Our bilateral counter-terrorism assistance involves capacity-building assistance, including training in counter-terrorism crisis management skills. We are encouraging moderate Islam in Indonesia to be more vocal. We are also offering specialist help and training in capacity building for provincial officials, focusing our help in provinces where improved governance will benefit the poor. Indonesia is a priority country for the Global Conflict Prevention Pool, and we are working to identify programmes to reduce sectarian violence and relieve humanitarian crises.

Middle East

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the United Nations to take steps to secure the presence of international observers in the Occupied Territories.

Bill Rammell: The Quartet, of which the UN is a member, has provided for third party monitoring of its roadmap. On 26 September 2003, the Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to follow closely the implementation by the parties of their obligations. This is done using the resources Quartet Members already have in the region, including the US team led by John Wolf and UN representatives.
	We have no plans to press the UN for more international observers in the Occupied Territories at this time.

Middle East

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom's (a) diplomatic and (b) trade relations with Israel will change as a result of the construction of the security wall.

Bill Rammell: No.
	The Government continue to use diplomatic channels to Israel to press for the route of the wall to be reconsidered. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns over its route and likely impact to the Israeli Prime Minister during his visit to London on 14 July 2003. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster during her visit to Israel on 30 September 2003.
	The wall should not be built within occupied territory. As the 17 October 2003 European Council statement made clear, we and our EU Partners are particularly concerned that the route marked out for the fence in the West Bank will cause further humanitarian and economic hardship to the Palestinians and could prejudge final status negotiations. We deplore this seizure of Palestinian land, the isolation of Palestinian villages and the creation of a further physical obstacle to the two-state solution.

Military Equipment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the military equipment purchased under the Global Conflict Prevention Pool, stating in each case (a) the recipient, (b) the amount spent and (c) the end use; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: holding answer 22 October 2003
	The following table indicates the purchase of military equipment under the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) since it was set up in 2000, and updates the information given in the response from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Harlow in his reply to my hon. Friend the member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 5 December 2002.
	Pool funding is used to supply military equipment where this forms part of an integrated conflict prevention strategy, and is crucial to ensuring the stability of a conflict area and to the success of the strategy. The GCPP takes into account the risk of any equipment supplied being misused by the recipient or falling into other hands, and the likely political consequences. Ministers will always take the final decision on any supply of weapons and ammunition.
	More general information on the details of the GCPP is available in the recent publication The Global Conflict Prevention PoolA joint UK Government approach to reducing conflict, which is available in the Library of the House. A copy of the booklet has been placed on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) accessible under Global IssuesInternational OrganisationsUNConflict Preventions.
	
		
			 Recipient Financial year Cost () Description (end use) 
		
		
			 Afghanistan
			 Afghan National Army and ISAF/Afghan police and military controls at Kabul entry points 200203 1.44 million Hard and soft-top jeeps, trucks, communication equipment, security equipment including spotlights, radio, metal detectors 
			  200304 (to date) 1 million Follow-on funding for further communications equipment to be provided in October 2003 
			 Nepal
			 Royal Nepalese Army 200102 285,818 Land Rovers spares and maintenance training, communications equipment 
			  200203 3,099,347 Communications equipment, binoculars, compasses, Swiftscopes, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment, two transport helicopters 
			 Belize
			 Belize Defence Force 200102 169,555 Aircraft parts and freight costs, Land Rovers and spares, radio equipment 
			  200203 127,259 Uniforms, mess kits, tents, hammocks, radio equipment 
			  200304 84,434 Uniforms, trucks, outboard motors, mess kits 
			 Macedonia
			 Macedonian authorities 200102 282,500 EOD equipment, body armour, global positioning system, mine detector sets, flares 
			   75,000 Four fort-lift trucks 
			 Sri Lanka
			 Sri Lankan Army 200203 92,000 EOD equipment 
			  200304 12,000 EOD training, MOD short-term training team 
			 Uruguay
			 Uruguay Peacekeeping 200102 27,014 Three NERA satellite phones and airtime 
			 Capacity training 200203 30,000 FATS firearms training simulator

Mobile Telephone Costs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on calls from mobile telephones in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Bill Rammell: This information is not held in the form requested and, particularly with regard to posts overseas, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Responsibility for renting mobile phone services at over 200 diplomatic missions overseas is delegated to those missions.

Morocco

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming visit of the King of Morocco, with specific reference to the Government's policy on the Western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: The King of Morocco has been invited to visit the United Kingdom, but no date has been agreed. We regularly discuss the Western Sahara in our contacts with the Moroccan Government.

Mr. Kirtan Singh

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the appeal papers in respect of Mr..Kirtan Singh, date of birth 6 May 1973, were sent from New Delhi.

Chris Mullin: The applicant has made two applications for Entry Clearance to the United Kingdom as the spouse of Lakhvir Kaur. The first application was made on 20 December 2001 and was refused on 26 June 2002. The appellant's solicitors informed us on 27 January 2003 that an appeal against this decision had been lodged on 5 July 2002. It later became apparent that the appeal had been lodged in error at the Deputy High Commission in Mumbai. In view of the circumstances the Visa Department in New Delhi suggested to the solicitors that a fresh application should be lodged.
	The applicant reapplied on 23 July 2003 and was refused on 4 September 2003. Notice of Appeal against the Entry Clearance Officer's decision was received on 23 September. The explanatory statement will be prepared and despatched as soon as possible.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the United Kingdom in relation to the implementation of the disarmament objectives set out at the end of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: holding answer 22 October 2003
	The United Kingdom remains fully committed to all aspects of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including global and verifiable nuclear disarmament. We have an excellent record in fulfilling our NPT obligations on nuclear disarmament. Consistent with the policy set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the UK has gone further than other Nuclear Weapon States in implementing the measures agreed in the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
	More specifically, the UK has:
	withdrawn and dismantled the RAF's freefall nuclear bomb so that Trident is now our only nuclear weapons system;
	reduced our operationally available stockpile to fewer than 200 warheads, which is a reduction of more than 70 per cent. in the potential explosive power of our nuclear forces since the end of the Cold War;
	dismantled the UK's last Chevaline warhead last year;
	reduced the readiness of our nuclear forces: only a single Trident submarine is now on deterrent patrol, carrying 48 warheads. The submarine on patrol is normally on several days 'notice to fire' and its missiles are de-targeted;
	placed fissile material no longer required for defence purposes under international safeguards. All enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK are now liable to international inspection; and
	been more transparent about our nuclear and fissile material stockpiles and begun a national historical accounting study for fissile material produced.
	The UK continues to play a full part in the NPT Review process, including most recently in the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom), which was held in Geneva in April and May this year. The UK issued a working paper at the PrepCom on its research into verification of nuclear disarmament and presented the conclusions of this interim study at a seminar during the PrepCom. We anticipate publishing a further paper for the 2004 session of the PrepCom and a consolidated paper at the Review Conference in 2005.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the states in the Middle East that have (a) signed and (b) ratified the (i) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, (ii) Chemical Weapons Convention and (iii) Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Jack Straw: holding answer 22 October 2003
	States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) include:
	Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
	States parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) include:
	Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Israel has signed but not ratified the CWC.
	States parties to the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC) include:
	Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Egypt. United Arab Emirates and Syria have signed but not ratified the BWC.
	The United Kingdom regularly calls on all states of the region to accede to these regimes whenever the opportunity arises. We have also made clear our support for a Middle East zone free from weapons of mass destruction.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on the proposal of exempting religious universities from the imposition of Shariah Law.

Mike O'Brien: I discussed the Shariah Law with the Pakistani High Commissioner on 22 September 2003. I understand that the authorities in the North West Frontier Province will apply the Sharia Law to educational institutions.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on the current status of the blasphemy law.

Mike O'Brien: I discussed the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani High Commissioner on 22 September 2003. She told me that her Government was taking action to prevent abuses of these laws. The British High Commission in Islamabad remains in close touch with representatives of Christian and other religious minorities in Pakistan.

Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from veterans who wish to accept the Russian Defence of the Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal.

Bill Rammell: Since June 2003, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received two telephone inquiries and one letter from veterans wishing to accept the Russian Defence of the Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the release from house arrest of Dr. al-Turabi by the Government of the Sudan.

Chris Mullin: We welcome the release of Dr. al-Turabi and other political prisoners. We hope that the Government of Sudan will continue the process of reconciliation with all other parties.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the potential attendance of (a) Robert Mugabe and (b) Zimbabwe officials and Ministers on the EU travel ban list at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December 2003.

Jack Straw: As it is suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth, no invitation has been issued to the Government of Zimbabwe. This is in line with past Commonwealth practice. The EU's travel ban obviously does not apply to Abuja, Nigeria, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is being held as Nigeria is not a member of the EU.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the British Government (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the government of (i) Australia, (ii) South Africa and (iii) Nigeria on President Robert Mugabe's attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December.

Jack Straw: We have had regular discussions with the governments of Australia, South Africa and Nigeria on this issue. These discussions will continue in the run-up to CHOGM.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Buildmark Warranty Scheme

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make representations to the chief executive of the National Home-Building Council to extend the cover provided by the Buildmark Warranty Scheme to include permanent external fixtures in addition to structural defects.

Phil Hope: The terms of the Buildmark scheme are a matter for the council and board of the National House-Building Council (NHBC). I am aware that the NHBC keeps the terms of the scheme under review. The cover provided in years three to 10 of Buildmark agreements has been extended over recent years to include damage occurring in external render and external vertical tile hanging, tile and slate roof coverings, and multiple glazing, as well as structural matters and various non- structural internal features. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans at present for any representations to the NHBC about adding to the list of non-structural external features included in the cover.

Buildmark Warranty Scheme

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent meetings he has had with the chief executive of the National Home-Building Council to discuss its Buildmark Warranty Scheme.

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Lord Rooker met the chairman and the chief executive of the National House Building Council in April this year, to discuss matters of common interest, including the Buildmark scheme.

Council Housing Stock

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many local authorities have transferred the whole or part of their housing stock in each year since 1990;
	(2)  how many local councils have transferred (a) all and (b) some of their housing stock to (i) housing associations and (ii) bodies other than housing associations.

Keith Hill: The number of local authorities who have transferred whole or part of their housing stock in each year since 1990 are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Number of Authorities transferring stock 
		
		
			 1990 8 
			 1991 5 
			 1992 2 
			 1993 5 
			 1994 12 
			 1995 9 
			 1996 10 
			 1997 5 
			 1998 15 
			 1999 24 
			 2000 18 
			 2001 15 
			 2002 16 
			 2003 (15)10 
		
	
	(15) to date
	A local authority may only transfer its tenanted stock to a Registered Social Landlord.

Council Housing Stock

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will hold discussions with representatives of local councils wishing to retain control of their housing stock.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would welcome discussions with local authorities to discuss the options for delivering the decent homes target.

Council Housing Stock

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central government financial inducements are available to local councils when transferring housing stock to (a) housing associations and (b) other outside bodies.

Keith Hill: There are no central government financial inducements available to a local authority when transferring its housing stock. A local authority may only transfer its tenanted housing stock to a Registered Social Landlord, a housing organisation registered with the Housing Corporation, of which a housing association is one such organisation.

Council Housing Stock

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities which retain control of their housing stock receive the same financial assistance as local authorities which transfer their housing stock.

Keith Hill: The Sustainable Communities Plan made it clear that local authorities seeking additional investment in their housing stock, in order to meet the decent home standard, are able to choose from three options: stock transfer, the Private Finance Initiative and setting up an Arms Length Management Organisation.
	The resources available for social housing, although greatly increased under this Government, are limited. To make best use of those resources the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will only provide additional funding to councils that separate their landlord and strategic functions. This provides a strong incentive to better performance; ensures a sharper focus on the two distinct housing functions; and guarantees that tenants have a greater role in the future management of their homes.
	In a number of cases local authorities are able to meet the decent homes standard out of their mainstream funding.

Council Tax

Alan Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities take into account war pensions when assessing council tax.

Chris Pond: I have been asked to reply.
	A statutory disregard of 10 is applied to War Disablement Pensions and War Widows Pensions when calculating entitlement to income-related benefits. In the case of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, local authorities have the discretion to apply a further disregard up to the full amount of any War Pension in payment.
	At April 2003, 392 local authorities disregarded War Pensions in full and two authorities, Middlesbrough and Bolton, applied a full disregard to War Pensions but not War Widows' Pensions. A further 12 authorities applied a disregard in excess of the statutory 10. They are, as follows: Barrow; Chester-le-Street; Gateshead; Newcastle; North Tyneside; Preston; Salford; South Tyneside; Sunderland; Surrey Heath; Tynedale; and Weymouth and Portland. The remaining two authorities, Easington and Wear Valley, applied the statutory disregard only.
	This answer corrects the information given in the reply to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 513W.
	Source:
	Ministry of Defence Veterans' Task Force from information supplied by the Royal British Legion.

Euro

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for UK entry to the euro; how much his Department plans to spend on preparations for UK entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 200506; and what estimates he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Regional Governance and Fire on 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1027W.

Fire Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) individuals and (b) organisations in North Yorkshire on the Fire Scheme.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister understands the hon. Member is referring to the North Yorkshire Fire  Rescue Authority's Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received no representations on the Scheme from either individuals or organisations in North Yorkshire.

Marine Aggregates

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of global warming in drawing up the guidance issued for determining applications for the extraction of marine aggregates.

Yvette Cooper: The effects of global warming were not assessed during the preparation of Marine Minerals Guidance Note 1 (MMG1) published in July 2002. The progressive effects of climate change due to global warming on the marine environment are still relatively uncertain. However, at present, these appear to include rising sea levels, increased storminess, changes to sea floor habitats and modified behavioural patterns of marine organisms. These are all matters that can be taken into account, as appropriate and as knowledge increases, in the Environmental Statements that accompany each marine minerals dredging licence application. Each Environmental Statement is examined carefully and widely consulted upon before that application is determined. Licences for dredging of marine minerals are both time-limited and subject to conditions that include monitoring of the marine environment to ensure that action can be taken if unforeseen effects take place. As regards general policy, MMG1, as with all Government guidance, is subject to periodical review and to revision when necessary. Where the impacts of climate change both become more certain and are sufficiently significant to influence the stance of policy in these areas, the guidance can be revised to take them into account.

Marine Aggregates

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much marine aggregate has been extracted from UK coasts in the last 10 years; and what his assessment is of the total amount that may be removed within safe environmental limits.

Yvette Cooper: Most marine dredging for aggregate takes place over five kilometres away from the immediate vicinity of the coast. There is little extraction closer to the coast. The total amount of sand and gravel extracted for use as aggregate from all licensed areas in UK waters over the past 10 years is about 253.3 million tonnes. It is not possible to estimate with any certainty how much can be removed within safe environmental limits since the total size of the resource is not yet known. In addition, impacts on the sea-floor, marine currents and waves, habitats and uses of the sea all need to be assessed in detail, on a project-by-project basis, to establish whether any individual proposal is environmental acceptable. Each licence application is subject to an environmental impact assessment which includes a coastal impact study. This is the subject of careful analysis and wide consultation and, if necessary, additional investigations before a decision is taken. All licences that are issued by the Crown Estate are subject to conditions specified by Government to make sure that any environmental impacts are minimised. Licences are time-limited so that the position can be reconsidered if further dredging is proposed.

Mobile Phone Base Stations

John Whittingdale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum distance is from a mobile phone base station that a school can be located in order to meet the definition 'near' thus requiring the relevant body of the school to be consulted under paragraph 62 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (Telecommunications).

Yvette Cooper: The Government have not defined the maximum distance from a mobile phone base station that a school can be located in order to meet the definition near thus requiring the relevant body of the school to be consulted under paragraph 62 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (Telecommunications).
	The Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development published in November 2002 states that in determining whether a school or college should be consulted the following factors should be taken into account by network operators and local planning authorities:
	the proposed site is on school/college grounds;
	the proposed development would be seen from the school/college or its grounds;
	the site is on the main access point used by pupils/students to the school/college;
	there is a history of concern about base stations within the local community;
	the local planning authority has requested consultation with the school/college;
	the school/college has requested that it be included in any consultation (DfES has advised schools and colleges that if they wish to be consulted about base stations in their locality they should notify the local planning authority setting out the circumstance in which they would wish to be consulted).

Neighbourhood Renewal

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the calculations, indicators and assessments for each Neighbourhood Renewal Fund authority which led to the identification of 26 such authorities for additional residual NRF support.

Yvette Cooper: A copy of the table showing the allocations to the 26 local authority areas eligible for residual Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) resources in 200405 and 200506; the list of indicators against which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister measured the distance travelled by each area towards floor target achievement, and the set of base data used in these measurements is available in the Library of the House.

Ordnance Survey Framework Document

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Ordnance Survey Framework Document.

Yvette Cooper: My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) announced in July 2002 that a new Ordnance Survey Framework Document would be produced, following the conclusion of the Quinquennial Review.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not in a position to say when the Framework Document will be finalised and published, but the Government is well aware of the need to conclude this matter without unnecessary further delay.

Planning Law

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his plans to amend the planning laws to give local authorities and planning departments more powers to overcome abuses of planning law, with special reference to the removal of travellers and others from land without the consent of the landowner.

Yvette Cooper: When travellers have bought and developed land without planning permission, this would be an unauthorised development, which is a breach of current planning laws. A range of powers already exists to deal with unauthorised development, which is a planning matter. When travellers have trespassed onto land they do not own, that is an unauthorised encampment.
	The police can issue a Section 61 Direction under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, directing trespassers to leave land. Failure to comply with such a direction is an offence. Local authorities may issue a Direction to Travellers on unauthorised encampments under Section 77 of the 1994 Act. Again, failure to comply is an offence. Landowners have power under the common law to remove trespassers from their land. The procedure to be used is contained in Part 55 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
	There are also proposals contained in Clause 62 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, to give the police power to direct illegally camped travellers to leave land. The new power could only be used if the local authority has available pitches on sites in their area.

Planning Law

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will make a grant to Chelmsford borough council to assist it in offsetting the money they will have to spend to enforce planning laws through direct action at Cranham road, Little Waltham, Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: No. Local planning authorities already have powers under section 178 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to take direct enforcement action and recover their costs from the owner of the land.

RAF Newton

Mr. Clarke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to receive the report of the Inspector into the proposal to build an asylum seekers accommodation centre on the site of RAF Newton in Nottinghamshire; and when he expects to announce a decision.

Keith Hill: The Inspector's report was received on 22 July and is under active consideration. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will proceed to a decision as soon as possible.

South Sefton Partnership

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps have been taken by the South Sefton Partnership to build a stronger community by helping local people (a) to be involved in planning and decision-making at local level and (b) supporting community initiatives.

Yvette Cooper: This is one of Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet South Sefton PartnershipThe Story So Far which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives.
	The steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows:
	Supporting the creation of the 13 Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAG) in South Sefton to co-ordinate regeneration activity at local level.
	Creating and funding 12-month Making it Real capacity-building project to help the NAGs complete neighbourhood audits and develop local action plans.
	Creating the NAG Support Team and the NAG Development Fund to support the on-going work of the NAGs at neighbourhood level.
	Funding a consultation exercise, run by Venus, to identify ways that young people can be actively involved in the regeneration process.
	Funding the Neighbourhood Skills Works project to provide NAG members with the skilled required to play an active role in local regeneration activities.
	Funding the Volunteer Support Project in Netherton and Litherland which aims to help groups provide a high-quality youth services through training and supporting volunteer workers.
	Launching the South Sefton Key Fund, a project to provide groups with easy access to grants of up to 10,000 to support community projects in South Sefton.

Sunset Clauses

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to include a sunset clause in all new legislation promoted by his Department unless a specific case can be made to exclude a sunset clause.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister actively promotes the better regulation agenda and the use of sunsetting where appropriate.

Sustainable Communities Plan

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the sites in each of the growth areas defined in the Government's Sustainable Development Plan that have been designated as sites of European importance for birds under the Birds Directive;
	(2)  if he will list the sites of special scientific interest that are within each of the grant areas in South-East England designated under the Sustainable Communities Plan;
	(3)  if he will list the (a) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (b) ancient woodland and (c) national nature reserves that lie within the grant areas designated under his Sustainable Communities Plan.

Yvette Cooper: The Chilterns and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) fall within the growth areas.
	A list of Sites of Special Interests (SSSI), National Nature Reserves (NNRs), ancient woodlands and Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive (SPAs), within local authorities covered by the growth areas is available in the Library of the House. All NNRs and SPAs are also SSSIs, as are some ancient woodlands. Owners and occupiers of SSSIs must obtain consent from English Nature before carrying out any operations on their SSSIs that are likely to damage the special conservation interest. Government Departments and public bodies must similarly consult English Nature before carrying out or permitting any operation likely to damage the special conservation interest of SSSIs.
	The Communities Plan sets out a framework for housing growth within the principles of sustainable development. That means high density, high quality design and easy access to public transport and other public services. It restates our commitment to develop brownfield first, and to protect and enhance the green belt, minimising adverse environmental impacts. In the Milton Keynes South Midlands area, for example, local and regional partners have put forward proposals for housing growth which fall overwhelmingly in and around the existing urban areas.
	These and other growth proposals will be examined through the Regional Planning Guidance process. Areas such as AONBs and SSSIs receive a high degree of protection from the planning system because of the national importance of their landscapes and their nature conservation value. National planning policies on these areas are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 7 and 9.
	In order to ensure that growth proposals enhance and improve countryside and nature conservation, we are actively enhancing green spaces within the growth areas. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently drawing up a green space strategy for the Thames Gateway, and are developing a programme to improve the quality and accessibility of strategic green spaces in and around the other growth areas.

HEALTH

3G Telephone Masts

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by the Department on the effect of 3G telephone masts on public health.

Melanie Johnson: The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has statutory responsibility for providing advice on health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields including radio waves. It has received a number of inquiries about a recent Dutch study, the effects of third generation (3G) signals from the Netherlands and has posted a response statement on its website at www.nrpb.org.
	Government advice on mobile phones and health is based on the Stewart Report, issued in May 2000 and available at www.iegmp.org.uk. In respect of base stations the report concluded:
	The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines.
	The operators of mobile telephone equipment, including 3G systems, should ensure that public exposure does not exceed the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Measurements to date undertaken by the NRPB and the Radiocommunications Agency (www.radio.gov.uk) have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines.
	Research published since the Stewart Report is currently being reviewed by the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. The group's review is expected in the next few months.

Breast Cancer

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the members are of the Cancer Research UK study team studying potential risk factors for breast cancer.

Melanie Johnson: This is an independent research project, which has not been directly commissioned or funded by the Government. The Department does not, therefore, hold details of the members of the study team. Cancer Research UK may be able to provide the information requested.

Accident and Emergency Services

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in the accident and emergency departments in Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust on 1October (a) 2003 and (b) 2002, broken down by grade.

Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of staff employed in accident and emergency departments on 1 October 2003 have not yet been published. The figures for 2002 are in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical Staff within Hull  East Yorkshire NHS Trust with a speciality in Accident  Emergency medicine As at 30 September 2002
		
			  Numbers (headcount) 
			  All staff Of which:AE specialists 
		
		
			 Total 603 33 
			 Of which:   
			 Consultant 208 5 
			 Non consultant Career Grade 55 7 
			 Registrar Group 106 4 
			 Senior House Officer 165 16 
			 House Officer 25 (16) 
			 Hospital Practitioner/Clinical Assistant 44 1 
		
	
	(16) Zero
	Source:Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Arthritis

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made by the NHS in providing treatment for arthritis sufferers.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government is aware that arthritis is a major cause of disability in the United Kingdom and that it has a significant impact, not only on health and community services, but also on the people who experience its painful symptoms. We are sympathetic to the needs of patients with arthritis and have helped make new generation drugs for arthritis treatment such as etanercept and infliximab available to National Health Service patients.
	Maximum waiting times have fallen over the past few years and will continue to do so. By the end of 2005, the maximum waiting time for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant will fall to three months and the maximum wait for inpatient treatment will fall to six months. This will help all NHS patients, including those with arthritis.
	Over the years 200304 to 200708, expenditure on the NHS in England will increase on average by 7.4 per cent., a year over and above inflationa total increase over the period of 43 per cent., in real terms. This will take the total spent on the NHS in England from 56 billion in 200203 to over 90 billion in 200708 and lead to better services for all patients.

Cancer Research

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on implementation of the promise made by his Department to match charitable spending on cancer research pound for pound in 2003.

Melanie Johnson: In the NHS Cancer Plan, the government stated its commitment to increasing funds for cancer research so as to play a full part alongside its funding partners. We said that, by 2003, we would be investing an additional 20 million each year in the infrastructure for cancer research and an extra 4 million on prostate cancer research. This new funding would mean that, for the first time, Government (through the Department, the Higher Education Funding Council and the Research Councils) would match the current investment of the voluntary sector.
	In June 2002, we confirmed to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that Government investment in cancer research had already reached the level of the charities. Nevertheless, we remain committed to investing the extra 24 million, as described in the Cancer Plan.

Cancer Research

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be spent in 200304 on research into (a) cures and (b) early diagnosis of (i) mesothelioma, (ii) breast cancer, (iii) other lung cancers, (iv) prostate cancer and (v) skin cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Over 75 per cent. of the Departments total expenditure on research, including that on cancer, is devolved to national health service providers and details of these figures are not collected centrally.
	The International Cancer Research Portfolio database at www.cancerportfolio.org contains details of projects supported by cancer research funding organisations in the United Kingdom and the United States. Data submitted by the National Cancer Research Institute includes the research portfolios of the 15 largest Government and charitable funders of cancer research in the UK where the research was active on 1 January 2003. The database can be searched by type of cancer, area of research, and funding organisation. It does not contain details of research funded through allocations to NHS providers.

National Care Standards Commission

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he has made for the annual cost to public funds of the National Care Standards Commission's inspection of independent boarding schools.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 16 June 2003
	The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is funded partly by grant in aid from the Department of Health and partly by the income it generates through its registration and inspection work. This Department's grant in aid funds the entire range of the NCSC's regulatory activities and is not broken down into components according to service.

Criminal Records Checks

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees in the NHS require Criminal Records Bureau checks; what the total cost of those checks is; and who pays for them.

John Hutton: holding answer 22 October 2003
	Since the start of the Criminal Records Bureau in March 2002, approximately 170,000 disclosure applications have been received by the CRB from the national health service and primary care. The total cost in fees of these disclosures is estimated at 2,744,000. The fee for disclosures is normally met in the NHS by employers.

Dentistry

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England have been registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: At 31 July 2003, 23.1 million patients were registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist in England. The information is shown in the table for 30 September for the years 1994 to 2002 and for 31 July 2003.
	
		General Dental Service: Number of persons registered with a dentist, 1994 to 2003England
		
			  Million 
		
		
			 At 30 September  
			 1994 28.4 
			 1995 27.3 
			 1996 26.8 
			 1997 26.8 
			 1998(17) 23.5 
			 1999(17) 23.5 
			 2000(17) 23.7 
			 2001(17) 23.6 
			 2002(17) 23.5 
			 At 31 July 2003 23.1 
		
	
	(17) Registration data for these years is not comparable with earlier years due to the change in the registration period.
	The registration figures exclude patients who have not been to their GDS dentist within the past 15 months. The figures also exclude patients who receive dental treatment from other national health service dental services including dental access centres and patients who access treatment from dentists on an occasional basis.
	The registration periods for adults and children were changed for new registrations from September 1996. This affected registration numbers after November 1997 and, as a result, registration numbers from December 1997 onwards, when the first 15 months registrations expired, cannot be compared with the earlier figures. Some of the reduction in recorded registration numbers is due to improvements in the methods of removing duplicate registration records which were first employed by the Dental Practice Board in 1993.

Dentistry

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list for each primary care trust the number of children in the last year who have required dental treatment under a general anaesthetic;
	(2)  if he will list for each primary care trust the average cost of dental treatment for children requiring a general anaesthetic in the last year.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally. Since January 2002, all national health service dental treatment under general anaesthesia has been carried out in a hospital setting. Information on dental treatment for children carried out in NHS hospitals does not identify where general anaesthesia has been used, nor the cost per case.

Departmental Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to his Department for (a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information relating to the cost of ministerial cars and drivers has been addressed in a letter to the hon. Member from the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Information relating to the cost of planes chartered for ministerial travel is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.
	Information on the various elements of travel costs available from the Department's accounting system is given as follows. Figures are for financial years ending 31 March. Separate information on taxi expenditure was not kept before 200102.
	
		
			  Cost  
		
		
			 Taxis  
			 200102 312,226 
			 200203 336,659 
			   
			 Train travel  
			 199798 2,500,136 
			 199899 3,622,829 
			 19992000 4,825,844 
			 200001 3,187,127 
			 200102 4,741,888 
			 200203 4,265,410 
			   
			 Airline tickets  
			 199798 438,633 
			 199899 367,992 
			 19992000 454,484 
			 200001 614,316 
			 200102 655,581 
			 200203 639,508 
		
	
	There has been no expenditure on helicopters
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Department's published departmental staff handbook and all ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.

Departmental Staff

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) special advisers, (b) press officers, (c) civil servants, (d) advisers to civil servants and (e) permanent staff were working for his Department in each year since 1996.

Rosie Winterton: Between 1996 and 12 June 2003, there have been two special advisers in the Department of Health. Since 12 June 2003, there have been three special advisers at the Department of Health.
	Information on the number of press officers is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Numbers 
		
		
			 199697 15 
			 199798 16 
			 199899 18 
			 19992000 21 
			 200001 22 
			 200102 22 
			 200203 23 
		
	
	The term advisers to civil servants is not recognised.
	Data on staffing levels in the civil service is collected from Departments and Agencies twice-yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2002 were published on 27 February 2003.
	A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. Copies of these documents are also available in the Library.
	More detailed information on the civil service is published annually in Civil Service Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2003.

Elderly Care

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the provision of elderly care by the independent care sector; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no current plans to commission research into the provision of older people's care by the independent care sector. We believe that older people and their families should be able to choose from a range of options that will best meet their needs. The quality of care available to individuals is much more important to them than the type of organisation that provides the care.

Foundation Hospital Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the criteria he intends to apply when deciding the value of the asset base and the charge on assets for foundation trusts.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 October 2003
	All national health service bodies are at present required to earn an annual return of 3.5 per cent. of their average relevant net assets held during the year. This charge is paid by NHS trusts as public dividend capital dividend. Relevant net assets are all the assets and liabilities held by the NHS body, with the exceptions of donated assets, assets provided by Government grant and cash held in paymaster accounts. The legislation currently before Parliament requires that the Public Dividend Capital dividend payment required from foundation trusts would be calculated on the same basis as that for NHS trusts.

Foundation Trusts (Assets)

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the criteria which he intends to apply when deciding the value of the asset base and the charge on assets for foundation trusts will be the same for private finance initiative hospitals and other hospitals.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 October 2003
	All national health service bodies are at present required to earn an annual return of 3.5 per cent. of their average relevant net assets held during the year. This charge is paid by NHS trusts as Public Dividend Capital (PDC) dividend. The assets of NHS foundation trusts will be valued on the same basis as those of NHS trusts at present, using the current cost accounting base.
	The cost of capital charged on NHS foundation trusts' asset base in 200405 will also be calculated on the same basis as for NHS trusts at present. Clause 13(4) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will require that the PDC dividend payment required from foundation trusts would be calculated on the same basis as that for NHS trusts. Details of the criteria are available in the NHS Capital Accounting Manual, which is obtainable from the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk.

GP Contract

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the new general practitioner contract.

John Hutton: The Government remain committed to the implementation of the new practice-based general medical services contract by April 2004, as set out in contract document Investing in General Practice, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Home Improvements (Waiting Times)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of waiting times for (a) stairlifts and (b) downstairs extensions and modifications when people have been assessed as unable to climb stairs or to use standard toilet or washing facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	Housing adaptations for disabled people such as stair lifts, level access showers and downstairs extensions can be grant aided under the disabled facilities grant programme. This is a mandatory grant available to eligible applicants in order to help them to continue to live independently in their own homes. It is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and administered through local authorities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's budget for this grant has been increased substantially to 100 million for this year. However demand for the grant remains high and waiting lists do occur. Local authorities are required to respond to any full application for a disabled facilities grant within six months.
	The Government do not collect information on the length of any waiting lists. However jointly with the Department of Health we have issued draft guidance to local authorities setting out best practice in delivering this service. This includes target times for the complete delivery process including needs assessment, processing of the application and the completion of building works. These target times will depend on the complexity of, and priority attached to, individual cases but the guidance suggests that the maximum target time for the entire process should in any event be no more than 260 working days and only 80 working days in high priority cases. We are currently considering responses to this consultation and hope to issue final guidance to local housing and social service authorities before the end of this year.

Hospital Subsidies

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the criteria he will use in exercising his discretion over subsidies to hospitals will be the same for foundation and non-foundation trusts.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 October 2003
	To the extent that any public funds are made available for any central initiative from the Department (for example, implementation of national service framework initiatives) national health service foundation trusts should have access to an equitable proportion of those funds, whatever the actual source.
	This is why we are taking powers, under Section 11 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, to ensure that the Secretary of State is able to make loans, issue Public Dividend Capital or grants when providing financial assistance to NHS foundation trusts. These powers mirror the equivalent legislative provisions applying to NHS trusts.

Influenza Vaccinations

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Department is taking to encourage older people to get immunised against influenza.

Melanie Johnson: We launched a campaign on 1 October incorporating a number of strategies aimed at encouraging older people to receive their influenza immunisation. The campaign incorporates:
	National television advertising.
	Advertising in national and regional newspapers and magazines, including ethnic media.
	Advertising in buses, on pharmacy bags and online.
	Work with commercial partners, such as Gala Bingo and voluntary organisations such as Heart UK and the National Asthma Campaign.
	The Chief Medical Officer wrote to all general practitioners with details of this year's influenza programme in his letter of 6 August 2003.

Influenza Vaccinations

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the new guidelines issued by his Department on eligibility for protective injections against influenza will have on those with (a) asthma and (b) other medical respiratory conditions.

Melanie Johnson: The guidelines on eligibility for influenza vaccination has remained unchanged since its introduction in 200001. Those with asthma and other chronic respiratory disease should therefore continue to receive their free flu vaccination, as they have in previous years.

Living Wills

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility (a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts have to check whether patients have signed living wills; what the procedure is for carrying out such checks; what guidance he gives on recognition of such documents; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is a general principle of law and medical practice that a person with the necessary capacity has the right to consent to or refuse treatment. A healthcare professional will therefore discuss with a patient possible treatment options. This would, where it is appropriate and as a matter of good practice, include how a patient would like to be treated if he or she were to become incapacitated.
	There are no formal procedures for checking whether a patient has made a living will. But the process of obtaining consent should lead to a discussion of the subject where a patient's condition makes it appropriate.
	Guidance on advance refusals is included in the Department of Health's ReferenceGuide to Consent for Examination or Treatment published in March 2001.
	The draft Mental Incapacity Bill contains proposals for putting advance decisions to refuse treatment on a statutory footing.

Meat Inspections

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) countries of the present European Union and (b) applicant countries allow meat inspection by the meat industry.

Melanie Johnson: European Union legislation, that applies to all member states and will apply to applicant countries on their accession, requires meat inspection to be carried out by the official competent authorities. The legislation does not allow the meat industry to carry out meat inspection. However, the legislation does permit, in some circumstances, trained plant staff to assist with post-mortem inspection of poultry and rabbits, but only under the direct supervision of the official veterinarian. This system of inspection is currently in place in a number of United Kingdom poultry plants.
	Information about the extent to which the meat industry in other member states makes use of this provision and the current situation in applicant countries is not available.

Medical Equipment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 October 2003, reference 130874, on training of nurses, what monitoring arrangements his Department has in place to ensure that NHS trusts follow the guidelines in Working TogetherLearning Together, on training for using existing and new medical equipment; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Strategic health authorities are responsible for performance managing national health service trusts on the basis of local accountability agreements. They will ensure that NHS Trusts implement the lifelong learning framework targets, as set out in Working TogetherLearning Together, by monitoring progress through their mainstream performance management processes.

Medical Equipment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 October 2003, ref 130877, regarding re-use of single use medical equipment, if he will set out the results of the previous research; and what action was taken in response to its findings.

John Hutton: The Patients Association, in collaboration with the Infection Control Nurses Association, the Institute of Sterile Services Management and the National Association of Theatre Nurses, reported from a survey in 2000 (Hospital Acquired Infection and the Reuse of Medical Devices: The Patient's Association) that ten per cent. of responding hospitals were re-using single use devices. The Medical Devices Agency issued a revised Bulletin in August 2000 (Single-use Medical Devices: Implications and Consequences of Reuse) and further guidance was issued by the Department in circular HSC 2000/32 The Decontamination of Medical Devices.

Midwifery

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) began studying as a midwife and (b) completed their studies as a midwife, broken down by region, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what proportion of those successfully completing their studies went on (i) to register and (ii) to practise as a midwife in the NHS.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 October 2003
	Information on the number of people entering training to become a midwife by strategic health authority in 200203 and by regional office area between 199697 and 200102 has been placed in the Library. Information by region is not available centrally before 199697. Information on the number of midwives completing their studies is not collected centrally.
	Information from the Nursing and Midwifery Council on midwives on the register and intending to practise is available from the website www.nmc-uk.orq.uk. Information on midwives going on to practise in the national health service after completing training is not collected centrally.

Midwifery

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what targets he has set relating to (a) the recruitment of midwives into the NHS and (b) the overall numbers of midwives employed within the NHS;
	(2)  how many midwives worked in the national health service, expressed as (a) a headcount and (b) whole time equivalent, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 October 2003
	Information on the number of midwives employed in the national health service is shown in the table. The Government expects to see an extra 2,000 midwives employed in the NHS by 2006, over a 2,000 baseline. As at September 2002, there were 23,249 midwives, an increase of 680 since 2000.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Registered midwives in England as at 30 September each year
		
			  Whole-time equivalent Numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			 1992 20,345 24,092 
			 1993 19,629 23,443 
			 1994 19,337 23,103 
			 1995 18,034 22,022 
			 1996 18,262 22,595 
			 1997 18,053 22,385 
			 1998 18,168 22,841 
			 1999 17,876 22,799 
			 2000 17,662 22,572 
			 2001 18,048 23,075 
			 2002 18,119 23,249 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. A new system of occupation coding for NHS non-medical staff was introduced in 1995. The new codes classify staff according to what they do rather than the terms and conditions under which they are employed ie national payscales. Figures based on new occupation codes are not directly comparable with those based on the old payscale classification.
	3. Therefore figures since 1995 are not comparable with earlier years.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Midwifery

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to public funds of supporting student midwives was in the last year for which figures are available; and how many student midwives were supported.

John Hutton: National health service-funded student midwives are eligible for financial support under the terms of the NHS bursary scheme. The total value of bursary payments made to midwifery students for the academic year 200203 was 14.8 million, with 3,164 students being in receipt of a bursary. All NHS-funded students also have their liability for a tuition fee contribution (worth up to 1,100 for the academic year 200203) met on their behalf, without means testing.

Midwifery

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when ministers or officials last examined financial support arrangements for student midwives; what principle decisions were made; and what plans there are to re-examine support arrangements.

John Hutton: The Department undertook a comprehensive review of all national health service-funded student support arrangements during 200001 and a number of options for change were considered. It was decided to retain the existing overall format of the NHS package, but to provide a range of other improvements targeted at specific areas of need. NHS bursary rates across all the professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent, (well ahead of inflation) in 2001. My ministerial colleagues and I continue to keep NHS-funded student support arrangements under review in order to ensure they continue to meet our objectives for the service.

Midwifery

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of staffing levels in NHS maternity units, with particular reference to the number of midwives.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The Government are committed to nationally increasing the number of midwives. By 2006, we expect there to be 2,000 more midwives being employed in the national health service than in 2000. Since September 2000, the number of midwives employed in the NHS has increased by 680 to 23,249. Information on the number of midwives by NHS maternity unit is not collected centrally.

Midwifery

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of places available for those wishing to study to become a midwife.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 October
	The Government are increasing the number of training places for midwives as part of the NHS Plan commitment for an extra 5,500 nurses and midwives entering training by 2004, over a 1999 baseline. In 200203, 1,445 students started training for a first qualification to become a midwife, an increase of 42 per cent., since 19992000. A further 677 started post-registration courses to become a midwife. Latest figures from workforce development confederations suggest a further overall increase of over 100 in the current financial year. Further increases in the future to improve midwifery services and to achieve the NHS Plan target.

Midwifery

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of financial support available for those wishing to study to become a midwife.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The Department of Health undertook a comprehensive review of all national health service-funded student support arrangements during 200001, and a number of options for change were considered. It was decided to retain the existing overall format of the NHS package, but provide a range of other improvements targetted at specific areas of need. NHS Bursary rates across all the professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent., (well ahead of inflation) in 2001.

NHS Direct

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls received by each NHS Direct centre in the latest month for which figures are available concerned access to an NHS dentist; and what percentage of total calls in each case this figure represents.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not centrally collected in the form requested. The number of clinical calls relating to dentistry by call centre is shown in the table.
	
		Dentist calls to NHS Direct for September 2003
		
			 Site Dental calls 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 302 
			 Essex 262 
			 Thames Valley and Northamptonshire 279 
			 West Country 630 
			 Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull 257 
			 West Yorkshire 2,375 
			 East Midlands 1,115 
			 Manchester, Cheshire and Wirral 626 
			 North West Coast 3,642 
			 Midlandshires 556 
			 Tees, East and North Yorkshire 716 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 511 
			 Hampshire 573 
			 Kent, Surrey and Sussex 227 
			 North East 950 
			 South Yorkshire and South Humber 269 
			 Anglia 373 
			 North and Central London 233 
			 North East London 98 
			 South East London 222 
			 South West London 191 
			 West London 140 
		
	
	In addition, NHS Direct will have dealt with a number of health information calls to do with dentistry but these calls are not separately currently identified.

NHS Overseas Treatment

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 19 May, Official Report, column 615W, on NHS treatment abroad, whether his Department has considered its position on the European Court of Justice judgment published on 13 May in case C385/99 Muller-Faure/Van Riet; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 17 September 2003
	On 1 October 2003, the High Court gave judgment in the case of Watts v. Bedford Primary Care Trust and the Secretary of State for Health. In that case, judgment was reserved explicitly in order that account could be taken by the judge of the European Court of Justice ruling in case C385/99 Muller-Faure/van Riet, which was central to the issues involved in Watts. The Department has been given permission to appeal in Watts and is currently considering whether to proceed.

Public Health Legislation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform public health legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: We announced in Getting Ahead of the Curve, the strategy for health protection published by the Chief Medical Officer in January 2002, that we intend to carry out a review of the infectious disease law. As stated in the answer of 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1333W, no specific timetable has been set for the review, but we intend that it should take account of the new emergency powers which it is planned to provide through the Civil Contingencies Bill.

Stroke

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of stroke patients he estimates will be able to be treated in specialist stroke units for the majority of their hospital stay from April 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Stroke is one of the condition specific standards (Standard 5) incorporated into the national service framework for older people. The target is that, by April 2004, 100 per cent. of all general hospitals which care for people with stroke will have a specialised stroke service, as described in the stroke service model and that all people who are thought to have had a stroke will have access to diagnostic services and access to specialist stroke services as appropriate.

Waiting Times

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Hull and the East Riding waited 13 weeks or more for an out-patient appointment in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for first outpatient appointment following General Practitioner or Dental Practitioner written referral at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
		
			  Number of patients 
		
		
			 200102 18,067 
			 200203 17,814 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08